DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Practice Exam

What adjustment should be made to exposure time when imaging an edentulous patient?

1. Increase exposure time

2. No change in exposure time

3. Decrease exposure time

4. Only adjust for the posterior region

The correct answer is: Decrease exposure time

The correct choice is to decrease exposure time when imaging an edentulous patient. This is because edentulous regions typically do not contain the density of bone and surrounding tissues that are present in areas with teeth. When there are no teeth to absorb the X-rays, the surrounding tissues allow more radiation to reach the film or digital sensor, leading to a higher overall density in the resulting image. To ensure that the image is neither overexposed nor too dark, a reduction in exposure time is necessary. This adjustment helps maintain the quality of the radiographic image without resulting in excessive darkness or loss of detail, which can occur if the exposure is not adjusted appropriately for the lack of dental structures. Other options would not be ideal since maintaining the normal exposure time might lead to an overexposed image, and increasing exposure time could mask important details needed for diagnosis. Adjustments should not be limited only to certain regions, as a comprehensive approach is essential in dentally imaging an edentulous patient.