Radiology Practice Test

What does elongation on a dental x-ray indicate?

1. Excessive exposure

2. Incorrect developer temperature

3. Not enough vertical angulation

4. Improper film processing

The correct answer is: Not enough vertical angulation

Elongation on a dental x-ray is primarily caused by insufficient vertical angulation during the imaging process. When the X-ray beam is positioned too flat or at too low of an angle relative to the tooth being imaged, it results in a distorted image that can make the tooth appear elongated. Proper vertical angulation creates accurate representations of the tooth’s length and shape. Other factors listed, although relevant to radiographic quality, are less directly linked to elongation. For instance, excessive exposure might lead to overexposed images that are dark and lack detail, while incorrect developer temperatures typically affect image contrast and clarity rather than causing elongation. Improper film processing may also lead to a variety of artifacts or quality issues, but again, elongation specifically is a result of the angle of the X-ray beam.