1

Dental X-Ray Film Processing

Chapter 10
In this Chapter… 2

 Part 1:
 Parts of Processor
 Solution Ingredients

 Part 2: Processing Problems and Solutions

FILM PROCESSING 3

“a chemical reaction”

That takes us from a latent image

to a visible image
Terminology 4

SELECTIVE
REDUCTION REDUCTION
 The halide portion  Reduction of the
of the exposed, energized, exposed
energized silver silver halide
halide crystals are crystals into black
removed metallic silver -the
 Result in black unexposed silver
metallic silver halide crystals are
images not reduced and
later removed from
the film
The Basic Steps – manual 5

processing

1.
DEVELOPMEN 2. RINSING 3. FIXATION
T

4. WASHING 5. DRYING
Development Chemical reaction that reduces
exposed silver halide crystals into black 6
metallic silver creating dark or black
areas on a radiograph; emulsion is
softened

Rinsing
Film is rinsed to remove developer
solution and stop the developing
process
Fixation
Removes unexposed silver halide
crystals creating white or clear areas on
a radiograph; emulsion is hardened
Washing
Remaining chemical solutions are
removed in water bath
Drying
 7
 Grey areas = latent image
produced by exposure

 Partial development of metallic

silver (black) in exposed grains

 Completion of development

 Unexposed silver grains have

been removed by fixation
Review Radiolucent Vs 8

Radiopaque
 Radiolucent  Radiopaque
 Readily permits xray  Resists passage of
passage xrays
 Numerous energized  The Halide crystals are
silver halide crystals not energized
 Large amounts of  They are washed away
black metallic silver  No dark metallic silver
when developed
 Radiograph appears
 Appears black on
white
radiograph
FILM PROCESSING 9

SOLUTIONS

 Fresh chemicals produce the best radiographs

 Film processing solutions should be replenished
daily and changed every 3-4 weeks to maintain
freshness
 Follow the dental office’s protocol regarding film
processing solutions & maintenance
 The DEVELOPER and FIXER are the two
chemical solutions necessary for film processing
Developer composition 1
0

Developing
agent

Preservative

Accelerator

restrainer
 11
Hydroquinone
 Optimum temperature is 68F
(20C) temperature sensitive
DEVELOPIN  Converts exposed silver
G AGENT halide crystals to black
metallic silver producing
black tones and contrast in
the image

Elon / Metol
 produces the many shades of
gray on a dental radiograph
 NOT temp sensitive
 1
2

Developer
Requires
Thermomete
r
 13

Sodium Sulfite

PRESERVAT
 Prevents oxidation of the
developing agents
IVE  Extends the life of the developer
 14

Sodium Carbonate


ACCELERATO Activates the developing agent

R  Provides alkaline (high pH)

environment for developing
agents

 Softens gelatin of the film

emulsion so developing agent
can react with the silver halide
crystals more effectively
 1
5
Potassium Bromide

RESTRAINE  Controls the developer

R  Prevents the developer from
developing silver halide
crystals
 Prevents fogging
FIXER COMPOSITION 1
6

Fixing/clearing
agent

Preservative

Hardening
agent

Acidifier
 17
FIXING/CLEARING AGENT

Sodium Thiosulfate Removes or clears

Or all unexposed,
undeveloped silver
Ammonium halide crystals from
Thiosulfate the emulsion
 18
PRESERVATIVE

Prevents
Sodium deterioratio
Sulfite n of the
fixing agent
 19
HARDENING AGENT

Hardens
and shrinks
Potassium
the gelatin
alum
in the film
emulsion
 20
ACIDIFIER

Neutralizes
Acetic acid or the alkaline
sulfuric acid developer
 21
DARKROOM

 This room must be completely

dark “light-tight”
 Any light leak will result in a
fogged radiograph which will
appear dull gray, lack contrast,
and nondiagnostic
 Room lighting is necessary for
cleaning, stocking materials and
mixing chemicals
 Safelight (red) is necessary for
processing films
Must be in dark room 22
 2
3
Allows you
to work in
the regular
light – but
must be
“light
tight”
 2
4

Manual
Vs.
Automatic
Processing
Manual Processing 25
Manual Developing 26

Holders
 27
Developer (& Replenisher)
 Attach the film to a film hanger & immerse into
the developer solution.
 Gently agitate the film hanger several times to
dislodge any air bubbles from clinging to the film
 At the end of the development time…

Immerse Film & hanger into rinse tank.

 Temperature: 15.5°C to 29.5°C (60°F to 85°F).
 Time: 30 seconds.
 Agitation: Continuous
Immerse Film into Fixer Solution 28
 Gently agitate several times
 Temperature: 15.5°C to 29.5°C (60°F to 85°F)
 Fixation time is about double the development
time

Immerse Film into Wash Tank

 Wash in clean running water
 Temperature: 15.5°C to 29.5°C (60°F to 85°F).
 Time: 20 minutes.
 Dry at room temperature in a dust-free area or
suitable drying cabinet.
 Temperature should not exceed 49°C (120 °F).
MANUAL PROCESSING CHECKLIST 29

1) CHECK SOLUTION LEVELS

2) STIR SOLUTIONS
3) CHECK TEMPERATURE
4) LABEL FILM HANGER
5) TURN ON SAFELIGHT/ TURN OFF WHITE LIGHT
6) CLOSE AND LOCK THE DOOR
7) LOAD FILM HANGER
8) SET THE TIMER
9) IMMERSE FILM IN DEVELOPER
10) AGITATE FILM
11) RINSE THOROUGHLY
12) SET TIMER
13) IMMERSE FILM IN FIXER
14) WASH COMPLETELY
AUTOMATIC PROCESSING 30

 Housing for all the parts

 Film feed slot
 Roller film transporter
 Developer compartment
 Fixer compartment
 Water compartment
 Drying chamber
 Replenisher pump of
solutions
 Film recovery slot
AUTOMATIC PROCESSING 31

 Available in different sizes

 Daylight loaders are necessary if processing in an
area of white light
 Requires less processing time than manual
 Time and temperatures are automatically
controlled
 Less equipment and space is required
PROCESSOR HOUSING 32
 Encases all of the component parts of the automatic
processor

FILM FEED SLOT - Used to insert unwrapped film into the

automatic processor

ROLLER FILM TRANSPORTER

 Moves the film through processor using motor-driven belts
or gears
 Has a wringing action that removes excess solution from
emulsion
 Gently agitate the processing solutions
COMPONENTS OF THE 33

AUTOMATIC PROCESSOR

DEVELOPER COMPARTMENT
 Holds a highly concentrated developing solution
 Temperature 80-95F

FIXER COMPARTMENT
 Holds a highly concentrated fixer solution
 Film is transported directly to the fixer compartment
from the developer compartment without rinsing

WATER COMPARTMENT
 Holds circulating water washing the films following fixation
COMPONENTS OF THE 34

AUTOMATIC PROCESSOR

DRYING COMPARTMENT
 Holds heated air used to dry the film

REPLENISHER PUMP / SOLUTIONS

 Maintain proper solution concentration and levels

FILM RECOVERY SLOT

 An opening on the outside of the processor where the dry,
processed radiograph emerges from the automatic
processor
AUTOMATIC FILM 35

PROCESSING

1) Prepare the darkroom (if no daylight loader)

2) Prepare the films (handle the edges only)
3) Feed the films into the processor (10 s between
the insertion of each film)
4) 4 to 6 minutes for automatic processing to
complete (4 minutes: intra-oral films & 6
minutes: extra-oral films)
5) Retrieve processed radiographs
6) Mount and label radiographs
FILM DUPLICATION 36

Place radiographs to be
Place the duplicating film
duplicated on the light Place the emulsion side
on top of the arranged
screen of the film down (dull side)
radiographs
duplicator

Secure duplicator lid Select the exposure time Set the timer

Activate the light source

to expose the film; the
longer the duplicating Process the duplicating
Label the duplicate
film is exposed to light, film manually or
radiographs
the lighter the film automatically
appears (opposite of x-
ray film)
 3
7

Part Two
PROCESSING ERRORS
 38
PROCESSING ERRORS

 A diagnostic
radiograph provides
proper density,
contrast, detail and
definition
 Processing errors
may cause a partial
or total absence of
images or obscure
images
 39
LIGHT FILM
 Underdeveloped film
= very light on a
dental radiograph ie:
low density
 Caused from
insufficient
developing time, low
developer
temperatures,
depleted or
contaminated
developer solutions,
inaccurate timer and
thermometer
 40

DARK FILM

 Overdeveloped film
= Image appears
very dark
 Excessive
developing time,
high developing
temperatures,
inaccurate timer and
thermometer
RETICULATION 41
– damaged
emulsion
 Film appears CRACKED
 Caused from a sudden
change between
developer and water
bath temperature
 Always check the
temperature of
processing solutions
and water bath
DEVELOPER 42
SPOTS

 Dark spots
appear on the
film
 Caused from
the DEVELOPER
solution coming
in contact with
the film before
processing
 Always ensure a
clean working
area
 43
FIXER
SPOTS
 White spots
appear on the
film
 Caused from
the FIXER
solution
coming in
contact with
the film prior
to processing
 Always ensure
a clean
working area
YELLOW- 44
BROWN
STAIN
 The film appears
yellowish-brown
 Caused from
exhausted
processing
solutions,
insufficient fixing
or rinsing
 Ensure film has
adequate fixation
and rinse times
 4
DEVELOPER 5
CUT-OFF
 A straight white border appears on
the film
 Caused from low level of developer
solution resulting in a partial image
 Caused from the films not being
completely immersed in the
developer solution due to clipping
the films at the very top of the film
rack
 Replenish developer solution when
necessary and take note of film
placement on film racks
 4
FIXER 6
CUT-OFF
 A straight black border
appears on the film
 Low level of fixer
solution - unfixed
portion of the film
 Films not being
completely immersed in
the fixer solution
 Check fixer level prior
to processing films and
ensure that all films are
completely immersed in
the fixer
OVERLAPPED FILM 47

 White or dark areas

appear on films where
overlapping has occurred
 Two films come in contact
with each other during
processing
 Films that overlap in the
developer exhibit white
areas representing an
undeveloped portion of
the film
 Films that overlap in the
fixer exhibit black areas
representing an unfixed
portion of the film
 48
AIR
BUBBLES
 White spots
caused by air
is trapped on a
film surface
after being
placed in the
processing
solutions

 Gently agitate
film rack after
placing in
processing
solutions
 FINGERNAIL ARTIFACT 49

 Black crescent-shaped
marks
 Rough handling of the
film
 damaging the film
emulsion with operator’s
fingernail
 Handle carefully by edges
FINGERPRINT ARTIFACT 50

 A black fingerprint
appears on the film
 Touching the film with
contaminated fingers of
developer or fluoride
 Work with clean, dry
hands
 Work in a clean area
STATIC ELECTRICITY
51

 Thin black
branching lines
 Opening film packet
too quickly or
opening a film
packet prior to
touching another
object eg: touching
a countertop in a
carpeted area
 Open film slowly
 5
SCRATCHED 2
FILM
White lines appear on the film
 Film emulsion removed from the
base by scratching with
something
 Use care when handling films-
especially if using metal film
rack holders
 LIGHT LEAK 53
 The exposed area
appears black
 Caused from white
light exposure or
defective film
packets
 Never unwrap films
in the presence of
white light and
check the packets
for any tears or
defects
 5
FOGGED FILM 4

 The film appears gray lacking

detail and definition
 Caused from: improper safe
lighting, light leaks in the
darkroom and film storage,
contaminated processing
solutions, high developer
temperature, expired films
 Check the bulb wattage of the
safelight and the darkroom for
light leaks
 Store films in a cool, dry area
 Note expiration dates
To Review 55

 Chemicals
 The actual process of “processing”
 Manual vs automatic
 Processing Errors
 And how to correct them 