ODU Dental Radiation Safety Certification Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The primary factor affecting the quality of an X-ray image is indeed linked to the duration of the exposure. The exposure time plays a critical role because it determines how long the X-ray beam interacts with the film or digital sensor. If the exposure is too short, it can result in an underexposed image, leading to inadequate detail and contrast. Conversely, an overly long exposure can lead to overexposure, causing loss of detail and increased noise in the image.

While other factors, such as the speed of the film and the positioning of the patient, influence the outcome of the X-ray image, they are not the primary determinants of image quality. The speed of the film affects how sensitive it is to radiation but does not directly control the interaction duration between the radiation and the imaging medium. The position of the patient can alter the angle and the area being imaged, which does impact clarity, but proper exposure time remains essential to achieving a high-quality image. The thickness of the film affects its robustness rather than the quality of the image itself, further reinforcing that exposure duration is the central factor in controlling image quality.