Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

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If a periapical radiograph lacks density, what adjustment should be made to correct this?

Increase exposure time
Increase mA
Decrease exposure time
Decrease kVp

The correct answer is: Increase mA

When a periapical radiograph lacks density, it appears too light or underexposed, which means that the proper amount of radiation did not reach the film or sensor, resulting in insufficient image contrast. Increasing the milliampere-seconds (mA) specifically enhances the density of the radiograph by increasing the number of x-rays produced during the exposure. This increase in x-ray quantity directly contributes to a darker image by allowing more radiation to reach the film or digital sensor, thus capturing more details in the radiograph. Other options could address exposure issues, but none directly optimize the balance of mA for achieving the necessary density. Increasing exposure time might also improve density; however, it can lead to motion blurring if the patient is unable to remain still. Decreasing exposure time or kVp would further reduce the density and contrast of the image. Therefore, adjusting the mA is the most effective and immediate way to improve radiographic density.