In panoramic radiography, what could black dots and lines indicate?

• A. Movement during exposure
• B. Static electricity interference
• C. Improper developer solution
• D. Radiation overexposure

Answer: (B)

In panoramic radiography, the presence of black dots and lines is most commonly attributed to static electricity interference. Static electricity can accumulate on the film or the imaging plate, particularly in dry conditions, and can cause artifacts that appear as irregular black marks. These artifacts result from the discharge of static, which affects the film's ability to record the image clearly, often leading to these dark spots and lines.

The other potential explanations for similar radiographic appearances often do not directly correspond to the specific patterns observed. Movement during exposure typically results in blurring rather than distinct black dots and lines. Improper developer solution may cause overall darkness or poor contrast but would not create the specific organized patterns seen with static. Radiation overexposure leads to a uniformly increased density across the entire image, rather than isolated defects such as black dots or lines. Thus, identifying black dots and lines on a panoramic radiograph points to static electricity as the most likely cause.