DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Practice Exam

When taking intraoral and panoramic exposures on children, what should the operator do with the exposure time?

1. Decrease the exposure time

2. Increase the exposure time

3. Decrease the exposure time in the max region

4. Increase the exposure time in the posterior region

The correct answer is: Decrease the exposure time

When performing radiographic exposures on children, it is essential to decrease the exposure time. This is primarily because children are more sensitive to radiation than adults due to their developing tissues and structures. Additionally, children typically have smaller body sizes and lower bone density, which make them more susceptible to the effects of radiation. Reducing the exposure time not only helps to minimize the patient's radiation dose but also accounts for the faster processing times of digital radiography, which is often used in pediatric dentistry. By decreasing the exposure time, the operator ensures adequate image quality while prioritizing the child's safety. It's important to balance obtaining clear images with the need to protect the developing tissues in children's bodies, making the adjustment in exposure time crucial in pediatric radiology.