KH.OS.

AL3naNy

1. Conventional or manual processing

- Immerse the film hanger in developer removing it at frequent time to hold up in safelight until fillings or root shapes visible.
- At that point films are rinsed and fixed

inspection
Visual or

method
- Affected by human errors
- Indicated when specific density is desired

*reliable & standardized method wz little errors.

*It is applied following the manufacturer's instructions which are listed on time - temperature chart
**Practical steps:
1. Replenish solutions:
Replenishment is the addition of fresh developer to developer tank and fresh fixer to the fixer tank every day
Insufficient replenishment of the developer results in a loss of image contrast.
Exhaustion of the fixing solution causes poor clearing of the film and insuffient hardening of the emulsion.
Fixed time-temperature method

2. Stir solutions:
- To mix the chemicals and equalize the temp. and conc. throughout the tanks.
- To prevent cross contamination use diff. paddle for each tank
3. Check the level and temp. of the processing solutions:
- The optimum temp. for developer is bet. 68F and 70F
4. Mount films on hangers:
- Using only safelight illumination in the dark room, remove the exposed film from its lightproof packet or cassette.
- Hold the films only by their edges to avoid damage of the film surface
- Clip the bare film onto a film hanger wz their short dimensions, one film to a clip.
- To avoid any possible confusion later, label the film racks with the patient's name and the exposure date
5. Set timer:
- check the temperature of the developer and set the time indicated by the manufacturer for the solution temperature
6. Develop:
- Start the timer mechanism and immerse the hanger and films immediately in the developer.
- Agitate the hanger mildly for 5 sec.s sweep air bubbles off the film.
- Leave the films in the developer for the predetermined time without further agitation.
7. Rinse:
- Remove the film hanger from the developer and place it in the running water bath for 10-20 seconds.
- Agitate the films continuously in the rinse water to remove excess developer
8. Fix:
Methods of Processing

- Place the film hanger in the fixer solution for 10 mins. and agitate.
9. Wash and dry:
- Place the hanger on the running water for 2o min.s to remove residual processing solutions.
- After the films have been washed, remove surface moisture by gently shaking excess water from the film.
- Dry the film in circulating, moderately warm air
10. Film mounting:
- Films are mounted acc. to their anatomical position in films mount which may be plastic or cardboard.
-The steps are the same as for manual processing except that the rinsing step between the processing solutions is eliminated.
- The fixer has an additional hardener that helps the emulsion withstand the rigors of the transport system.
- Most automatic processors have a daylight loading facility, eliminating the need for a darkroom.
Mechanism:
Consists of a transport mechanism consisting of a series of rollers driven by a constant-speed motor that picks up the
unwrapped film and passes it through the developing, fixing, washing, and drying sections.
2. Speed Processing

**The functions of the rollers are:

 To move the film through the processing solutions.
 To agitate the solutions by their motion.
Automatic processing

 To squeeze off any excess developing solution before passing the film to the fixer eliminating the rinsing step.
 To remove developing solution, minimizing carryover of developer into the fixer tank
These features helps maintain the uniformity of processing chemicals
**The processing time is reduced by:
1) Elimination of the rinsing step
2) Higher temp. of processing solutions
3) Higher conc. of processing solutions
4) Regular replenishing of the processing solutions (may be automatically controlled from self-contained reservoirs or carried
out manually)
**Advantages:
 Rapidity and time saving (takes 5 mins)
 Ease of use
 Elimination of the need to the dark room
 Chemicals can be replenished automatically by some machines
**Disadvantages:
 Expensive equipment
 Strict maintenance and regular cleaning are essential. Dirty rollers produce marked films.
 Most equipment process a certain minimum amount otherwise the will not function properly
 High temperature produces chemical fog in the final radiograph and also rapidly deteriorate the strength of the solutions.
 The automatic processor may break down thus conventional darkroom may still be needed as a backup s system

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- Film present in special sachet containing developer & fixer
- After exposure, the developer tab is pulled -> releasing developer solution which is massaged around the film.

Self-developing films
- After 15 sec,s the fixer tab is pulled and massaged around the film.
- After fixing the used solutions are discarded and the film is rinsed under running water for 10 min,s
**Advantages:
 No darkroom or processing facilities are needed
 Time saving: the final radiography is ready in about a min.
Disadvantages:
 Poor overall image quality due to absence of rinsing step leading to chemical fogging.
Methods of Processing

 The image deteriorates rapidly with time.

 There is NO lead foil inside the film packet thus film packet is very flexible and easily bent also back scattered radiation
can affect the film leading to fogging.
 These films are difficult to use in positioning holders
2. Speed Processing (cont.)

 Expensive.

- processing solutions are injected into closed film packet supplied with an injectable site
Injectable

- Packets have NO lead foil or black papers

Intraoral
films

- Have the same advantages and disadvantages of self-developing films

- Filmless dental radiograph techniques

Digital Processing

- used to record radiographic images without use of dental films or processing solutions
(Dry processing)

- Instead, Digital radiography uses electronic sensors or imaging plates and computer systems that display the radiographic
images almost instantly on a computer monitor

- Dental extra-oral radiographs can be made using emulsion coated on a paper backing instead of the usual cellulose acetate
base
Polarid land method

- These films are exposed to x-ray from a conventional dental machine using special cassettes and special screens.
(Dry Processing)

- The polaroid film develops as it is pulled through the cassette

- Processing is performed in one step dry method carried out in a special electric table top unit
**Advantages:
 Speed processing in about 10 sec.s.
 Eliminates the use of dark room.
**Disadvantages:
 The polaroid films need more exposure time than conventional films

The Day-Light loader

- If there is no enough space in the dental office for a dark rooms a day light loader may be used.
- It should be located in an area with reduced lightening.
- The unopened film packet is placed in the loader through the lid in the top
- After closing the lid, the operator reaches through the rubber cuffs.
- opens the film packet and starts processing (The processing solutions are contained within special jars within the loader)
The Day-light loader can used for both intra-oral and extraoral films as an extension compartment connected to the automatic processor machine.

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