Dental X-Ray Film And Film Processing

Dental X-Ray Film And Film Processing

Discuss composition of dental film packet in detail.
Answer. Dental film and its surrounding packaging is known as a film packet. Intraoral X-ray film packets consist of four basic components, i.e.

• X-ray film
• Paper film wrapper
• Lead foil sheet
• Outer film wrapping.

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X-ray Film

• An intraoral X-ray film is a double emulsion film.
• Single film packet can consist of one film, i.e. one-film packet or two films, i.e. two-film packet
• Two-film packet gives two identical radiographs with the same amount of exposure which is necessary to produce a single radiograph. This is indicated when there is need of duplicate record of a radiograph.
• A small raised dot which is known as identification dot is located at one corner of the intraoral X-ray film. The raised dot distinguishes between the left and right side of the patient after the film gets processed. So the identification dot helps in film orientation, mounting and interpretation.

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Paper Film Wrapper

• It is a protective sheet of black paper which covers the film inside the film packet.
• It provide shield to the film from light leak.

Lead Foil sheet

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• It is a single thin piece of lead foil in the film packet which is located behind the film wrapped inside the black protective paper.
• The sheet is positioned behind the film.
• Lead foil sheet absorbs most of the X-rays that passes through the film and prevents them from reaching the tongue and other oral tissues.
• It also absorbs back scattered or secondary radiation and prevents film fog.
• A secondary function of lead foil sheet is to provide sufficient strength to the whole film packet.
• If the film packet is placed reverse in the mouth, the shadow of the foil is seen on radiograph as ‘tyre-track’ marks or ‘Herring bone’appearance which is the embossed pattern placed on the lead foil by the manufacturer.

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Outer Plastic Wrapping

• Outer package wrapping is a soft-vinyl or a paper wrapper that hermetically seals the film packet, protective black paper and lead foil sheet.
• This outer wrapper serves to protect the film from exposure to light and saliva.
• The outer wrapper of the film packet has two sides, i.e. tube side and label side.
• Tube side: The tube side of the plastic cover is solid white and bears and raised dot, this raised dot or identification dot should be placed towards the X-ray tube. When inserted in the mouth, the edge carrying the dot should be placed at the incisive or occlusal margin of the tooth.
• Label side: This side of the film packet has a flap which is used to open the film packet to remove the film prior to processing. Label side is color-coded to identify films outside of the plastic packaging container. Color codes distinguish between one film and two film packets and between film speeds. When placed in the mouth, the color coded side of the film packet must face the tongue.

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• Following information is printed on the label side of the film packet:
  • A circle or dot that corresponds with the raised identification dot on the film.
  • The statement “opposite side toward tube”
  • The manufacturer’s name200 Mastering the BDS IVth Year-I (Last 25 Years Solved Questions)
  • The film speed
  • The number of films enclosed

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