DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Practice Exam

The use of high-speed films or digital sensors is effective in reducing patient radiation exposure due to their increased sensitivity to radiation. High-speed imaging technologies require less radiation to produce a diagnostic-quality image, leading to a decrease in the amount of radiation the patient is exposed to during the imaging process. This is particularly vital in dental radiography, where minimizing exposure is crucial for patient safety.

In contrast, lower quality imaging screens would not enhance sensitivity and could result in the need for increased radiation exposure to obtain adequate images. Increasing the exposure time directly increases the amount of radiation the patient receives, which is contrary to the goal of reducing exposure. Reducing the distance between the patient and the source does not mitigate exposure; in fact, it can increase it due to the inverse square law, which illustrates that radiation intensity increases as you move closer to the source.