OPERATOR ERRORS

Error Cause Correction Radiographic appearance
Elongation Insufficient (too little)vertical angulation Increase the vertical angulation (the angulation was too flat) maxelong.jpg (16395 bytes)
Foreshortening Excessive (too much) vertical angulation Decrease the vertical angulation (the angulation was too steep) manforeshort.jpg (16307 bytes)
Reverse film (Herring bone image appears) Film reversed in film holder  The white outer covering of the film faces the tubehead reversed.jpg (47901 bytes)
Conecut Incorrect PID alignment with the film The x-ray beam did not expose the entire film resulting in part of the image being "cut-off" conecut.jpg (20202 bytes)
Overlap Incorrect horizontal angulation The central ray was not directed through the interproximal contacts overlapcontact.jpg (23011 bytes)
Nonexposed Activation incomplete Failure of the machine to expose film- either not turned on, malfunction, did not hold down button or electrical failure unexposed.jpg (17281 bytes)
Overexposed Excessive exposure of film Exposure time, KvP, or MA too high Overexpos.jpg (22415 bytes)
Underexposed Insufficient settings Inadequate exposure time, KvP, MA, or combination of all of these Underexpos.jpg (14338 bytes)
Double exposure Exposed film re-exposed to radiation Film was exposed twice in the mouth doubleexpos.jpg (21318 bytes)
Film bending Excessive curving of film during placement resulting in a blurring appearance Use of film holding devices, cotton rolls, gentle pressure by patient, or different technique used bentfilm.jpg (28011 bytes)
Film creasing Emulsion cracked leaving radiolucent line Do not bend the film excessively, but gently soften the corners crease.jpg (29531 bytes)
Phalangioma Finger placement Patient finger should not be used to hold film
Blurred film Film/ patient or tubehead movement during exposure  Stabilize the patient's head & instruct the patient not to move; watch tube head for movement blurred.jpg (22419 bytes)
Incorrect occlusal plane Improper film placement or patient opened while exposing Instruct patient to hold the film in place & place film parallel to the occlusal surfaces slopeplane.jpg (31244 bytes)
Absence of apical structures Film not placed correctly, patient opened while exposing, or too little vertical angulation Place film so that the edge extends beyond the incisal-occlusal surfaces noapex.jpg (31680 bytes)