Section III. RADIATION HAZARDS AND PROTECTION
1-8.
RADIATION HAZARDS
The dental x-ray technician should never receive primary radiation from a dental
x-ray unit if safety precautions are observed. However, scattered (secondary) radiation
is more difficult to avoid and is a serious danger to the technician. This type of radiation
is produced by a scattering of the primary x-ray beam. The x-ray photons and photo-
electrons in the beam undergo a change of direction after interaction with atoms and
molecules as they pass through a substance. (Photo-electrons will be discussed in
Lesson 2.) Figure 1-6 depicts scattered/secondary radiation. Scattered/secondary
radiation from a patient is depicted in figure 1-7.
Figure 1-6. Diagram of scattered/secondary radiation.
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