DNI 7 Contribute to the production of dental images Workbook

A quality assurance program to change the images is necessary to ensure the standard of the images. The equipment must be monitored regularly to ensure the consistent operating facility of the images. The images produced by the equipment must be checked thoroughly to ensure the authenticity of the image and if that needs any changes then the changes must be done accordingly (Morid et al., 2021). “Darkroom safe lighting” is also checked for any leaks, and the digital sensors are verified once a year. Yearly calibration of the X-ray machines is also conducted. Test for the equipment for tightness of light and film screen should be checked half yearly or sooner in case of detection of any fault.

Beam energy: The energy spectrum that is utilized in the formation of the image is directly proportional to the anode target's atomic number. The utilization of beam energy is necessary to analyze the amount of filtration produced for the image. Higher-intensity energy radiation gives rise to more scattered radiation.

Acquisition geometry: It affects the quality of the image including the size of the spot and focal point along with the magnification amount. Geometric correction methods would be advisable in this case, including orthorectification and polynomial rectification.

Magnification: An increase in the receptor distance between the patient and the image or an increase in the air gap leads to magnification enhancement. A fault in the image receptor can give rise to higher magnification. This phenomenon enhances the magnification amount and the produced image becomes blurry.

Detector performance: A larger size of the detector element leads to low resolution, and this could be resolved by maintaining the size. It depends on the size of the element and can make a change in the resolution of the image.

Individuals must be asked to control the interference of the above-said items. The interference of beam energy might be reduced by using a certain amount of energy that is exactly needed for the radiographic image. The focal point of the image must be adjusted as per the distance required to reduce the interference of acquisition geometry. The fault in the image receptor should be checked regularly to maintain the magnification range

Several research works have led to the conclusion that increased exposure to X-rays makes a patient more susceptible to brain cancer. The main concern of dental imaging implies the abnormality of the cells that leads to cancer. Such higher radiation can cause cancer in children and is assumed to create risk in the case of pregnant women. The questions regarding the concerns must be referred to a doctor to analyze the facts and take precautions to minimize the exposure of radiation to children and other patients. Also, patients having metal plates set in the dental structure are recommended to avoid X-ray imaging. This is because the anatomy that is to be diagnosed can be obstructed by the metal. Besides, the metal is likely to turn into any other active form in the presence of the rays. In case of failed attempts to answer the patients' concerns, they would be referred to senior professionals.

According to Galvao et al., 2019 The chemicals used in developing a radiograph include a developer and a fixer solution.

Developer solution

?        Developing agents: The combination of the chemicals helps to produce an image with different shades. It contains Hydroquinone (para-dihydroxybenzene), Elon (monomethyl-para-amino phenol sulfate), metal (l-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone)”.

?       Preservatives: The preservative leads to the formation of sulphonate by preventing the oxidation process of the solution It contains Sodium sulfite.

?       Activators: They provide an alkaline medium that is required by hydroquinone to react, and these are required to make penetration of the developing agent for the softening of the gelatin in the present emulsion). Sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium metaborate, and sodium tetraborate are some of its constituents.

?       Restrainer It helps to reduce the depression of the unexposed crystals and acts as an anti-fog agent., and it is made up of Potassium bromide.

?       Hardeners: Glutaraldehyde is a type of hardener and It prevents the process of sticking and softening the emulsion.

?       Fungicides: These prevent any kind of bacterial growth.

?       Solvents: It contained distilled water. It can dissolve the chemicals to enhance the path of reactions.

?       Buffers: These help in maintaining the developer’s pH.

Fixer Solution:

?       Fixing agent: It is made up of “Sodium thiosulphate (hypo)” or “ammonium thiosulphate”. It contains sodium and ammonium thiosulphate. it helps to remove all undeveloped silver crystals.

?       Preservative: it contains sodium sulfite and prevents deterioration.

?       Hardening agent: Potassium alum is used as a hardening agent. The main work of the preservative is to harden the emulsion of the gelatin.

?       Acidifiers: They contain sulphuric acid and stop the further development of the developer.

The procedure for dental imaging in surgery is “Long Cone Periapical Radiography”, which captures the image of one or two teeth. The procedure of the surgery is Long cone periapical radiography and it helps to capture the image of the condition of one or more teeth (Reinhart et al., 2020). the procedure involves the following steps:

1.      The identification data of the patient is checked, followed by the preparation of the patient. It analyses the condition of a patient to make any changes in the denture.

2.     The image receptor is inserted into the film holder to ensure that it is aligned with the X-ray beam. The film holder is then inserted into the mouth of the patient keeping it parallel to the palatal aspect of the tooth (Marc El Hage et al. 2019). The process ensures the alignment of the beam and holds the film to capture consistent images

3.     The patient is then asked to close the mouth onto the bite block, which is supported by a roll of cotton wool. This ensures that the gaps between the teeth are filled and provides support to the block. The next process includes the filling of the gap between teeth and the position of the X-ray cone to develop uninterrupted images.

4.      It includes the removal of the exposure factors. It helps in the processing of the image receptor.

5.      The image is assessed for the final quality in the last stage of the process to ensure that it has the correct density. It ensures the correct density and contrast of the viewable and differentiated parts of the teeth. The image is reported in the clinical notes for complying with the “IRMER – Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations” in the UK.

The criteria that are followed in the process to ensure the image quality include:

?       Constant checking of the image receptor for preventing displacement in the mouth.

?       Placing of image receptor adjacently with the object.

?       X-ray cone should be attached parallelly to reduce radiation.

?       The front edge of the X-ray cone is to be kept parallel to the receptor to prevent cone cuts and images that are obliquely positioned.

?       the exposure voltage should be maintained to get rid of any kind of chaos.

?       Contamination through saliva has to be prevented, for which the barrier wraps are disposed of after removing the film holder.

?       Quality assurance of the image is conducted to ensure the authenticity of the receptor while obtaining the produced image.

The final images must be stored digitally to get access anytime from any device. The storage of the images relies on the format used by the respective authority for future uses (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 2022). A prototypical “HIPAA-compliant Medical Imaging Management System” would be used to request access to the PACS. The intermediary system would be an Edge-server which would play the role of a requesting node such that other physicians can also have access to the images.

The risks associated with dental imaging were already known to me, but most of it was based on preconceived notions. Although most of the beliefs I have regarding the risks are partially true, I have got to learn more facts about the process from the existing literature while doing this assignment which I had a rare idea about. The compounds that are used to produce the image were known to me, but I have gained an insight into their actual functions. I have developed a critical thinking ability through the identification of radiographs which I usually perform daily. Also, I have got to learn about the detailed process of "Long Cone Periapical Radiography”, along with the justification of each step. Being in the clinical profession, the storage procedure of a radiograph is known to me, but I got to learn about the software and hardware involved in the storage process in the course of this assignment.

Most of the duty hours of a clinician are spent resolving an error occurring in any surgical process. We rarely get time to analyze the factors that have contributed to a particular error in radiographic imaging. I have to learn about the potential factors that might hamper the imaging process or deteriorate image quality. Hence, now I know about the preparations that I would need to take beforehand to ensure that the images captured are of good quality. The radiographs provided in the workbook enabled me to practice error identification which I am obliged to perform daily during my duty hours. The detailed process of “Long Cone Periapical Radiography” is now known to me, but I might have to assist in the future.

The thing which I found difficult is the surgical process of “Long Cone Periapical Radiography”. Although I read about the justification while doing this workbook, the entire process has been overwhelming. The process involves too many steps, and any minor error might lead to a faulty image. The storage process of the images is also too complicated for a clinician who has limited knowledge of technology. On the other hand, this information is necessary to ensure that I am storing the images properly and allowing access to other physicians.

I can use the knowledge gained in this assignment for future surgical procedures I conduct in the future. I have developed a thinking ability which I suppose might be helpful in the future. The criterion required to ensure image quality would help me in the future while I assist doctors in the surgical process. The practice gained in the identification of radiograph errors has provided me with the ability to identify quicker, which I consider would help me further.

How long has it taken you to complete this workbook?

6

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15

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