Dental X-rays are a routine part of any dental examination. Dental assistants must learn the proper procedure to ensure that patients receive the services needed. Taking a dental X-ray requires only a few important steps.
Instructions
1. Have the patient remove all jewelry that is worn from the neck up. Ask the patient if they are pregnant, and if they have a partial denture in their mouth. Do not administer the X-ray if the patient is pregnant. If a partial denture is present, remove it from the patient's mouth.
2. Place the X-ray shield over the patient. The shield protects from the X-ray radiation. Adjust the X-ray machine to the patient's height, so the patient's chin is level with the bite plate. Ask the patient to rest his chin on the machine and bite on the mouthpiece with his front teeth. Ask the patient to close his lips tightly together.
3. Press the appropriate button (adult or child) for the X-ray patient. This will determine the size of the X-ray. Then, press "ready." The X-ray machine will then take an X-ray. Rotate the machine around the patient's head then remove the shield from the patient. Return the machine to its original position.
4. Locate the X-ray image. This will come out of a compartment that is attached to the machine. Take the X-ray to the dark room and remove it from its case. Place the image inside of an X-ray jacket and place it in the developer. Secure it so the X-ray can be processed. This takes approximately three minutes.
Tags: from patient, partial denture, remove from, This will, X-ray machine
