Transcribed by Tina Park July 18, 2014

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Radiology Lecture 9 & 10 Film Processing: The Darkroom I & II
by Dr. Rajinder Jain
[Using presentation titled: Dr. Jain Dark room Radiology Lectures Updated
Day 1 2014]

[1] Film Processing: The Darkroom
[Dr. Jain] Hello. Today I am going to discuss the darkroom and film
processing. Now you have right now what are x-rays, how are they
reproduced? And then we have receptors and various films and now when
we expose films with the radiation, what happens? We can get a latent
image and latent image we cannot see. It is not visible. Now when we make
the invisible latent image to visible radiograph. That is called processing. The
processing involves the darkroom and the processing. The processing is a
chemical process. Now we should know,

[2] Film Processing: The Darkroom
[Dr. Jain] see we are going to discuss the definition, components of the
darkroom, location and size, lighting, and test of lighting - coin test,
plumbing, processing tanks, and solutions: changing or replenishing.
Now remember these days we are going to change to digital. For digital we
dont need darkroom. But we do need the x-ray machine. Okay, so even
when we are changing to digital, everyone is not changing all at once. So
still those working with older dentists are still using darkroom. So dont think
you dont need to know anything about the darkroom. Im not going over
every details but Im going over basics about darkroom and processing.

[about the exam]

Now your exam is next Friday. We have one session in lecture and review
that will be on next Thursday. Dr. Friedman will give the lecture and after
lecture we will discussing and those of you who have any questions on the
material we have covered, you can ask him. And the examination will cover,
now listen everybody, it will cover up to the lecture on Thursday. Okay that
is included. It is not that we are, that the Thursday lecture is not included.
There will be 30 questions, multiple choice, and only the time is 50 minutes.
And we will be giving seating arrangements. It will be Septodont and Nagle.
And if you have any questions you can interrupt me and ask me, okay? Or
you can keep it for the end.

[back to the slides]

Now definition as I told you when the x-ray films are exposed. The film form
the silver bromide crystal and they become energized and they form a radio
image and when we process them the radio image becomes the visible
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image. And that image should be diagnostic and that is why we are doing all
this processing and everything. And for that processing we need the
darkroom. Darkroom should be placed near the x-ray machine. Okay? It
should not be far away from the x-ray machine. And should be of such a size
that the one person can be accommodated very nicely, should be very
comfortable, and the normal size for one person is 4x4 feet darkroom. And
the darkroom should not be combined with the lab or with your tea or other
social gatherings. And it should be because there is dust and dirt in the lab,
that contaminate the films. And this is very important while processing are
many errors, which Ill show you. Theres some error from film and doesnt
become diagnostic and we have to retake them. While we retake them the
patient is exposed again and nobody likes to be exposed for these things.
Because radiation, Dr. Friedman teaches how you protect yourself and the
patient so that everybody has to be protected and especially the patient has
to be not exposed too much. We use the form of a ladder (?). Ladder Means
as low as is achievable. We do minimum exposure and the best result. And
thats why these days if the patients mouth is healthy we will discuss the
selection criteria. If their mouth is healthy we dont start with full mouth
area. We start with the full bite and some films of the complaint tooth or
effected tooth. And the size is 4x4. If you are using the office too much we
are using too many films then the size should be more than 4x4. And if
were using automatic processor also in the darkroom then the darkroom
size should be bigger. Here in the school when you are doing the lab test or
preclinical simulation the size of the darkroom is very small. But when you
come for the darkroom in 1A to the [?] department the size is quite big.
Okay? And now the darkroom should be light tight and how you can see the
leaks of the light? Is stand on one side in the darkroom. Close all the doors
and see through the leaks. If there is leak then you will see some sort of
light in the darkroom.

[3] Safelighting
[Dr. Jain] and we cant function in light and we can stop that leak by using
tapes. And the darkroom previously used to be black and dark in color. Now
we can have any coloring. There should be right light in the darkroom, bright
color so that we can emit the light. Now another thing in the darkroom is the
lights. There are five kinds of lights. One is the safelight, what is the
safelight? That under the light we can process the films without fogging
them. And what is fog? I will tell you and the safe light has many filters. And
the strength of the safe light is when you are using extraoral and intraoral
films the filter we use is called color DBX2. You need to remember the
name of the filter because sometimes we can ask in exams if not here, then
when you are taking your board exams.

[Student] Can you repeat that, the name?
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[Dr. Jain] Yea. The name of the filter is DBX2. Now if we are using only
intraoral films then we can use the other filter, which is maybe yellow. And
this filter name is M2.

[Student] Could you repeat the name?
[Dr. Jain] M2, okay? M2 filter is yellow filter. Now if you are using extraoral
then you have to use DBX2. And when using DBX2 you can use intraoral or
extraoralboth films, but if you are using the yellow filter you cannot use for
extraoral films.

These are the various safelights. And you see that you can hang it or put it
on the wall. And the other safelight you can put it on the side of the tank
because you when you use red film we can use it this way. And this one is a
yellow filter.

[4] Coin Test
[Dr. Jain] And you should remember that in all exams that there are 1-2
questions about the safelight. How you know that our safelight is safe,
meaning that it is not leaking. What you do is you put a coin on unexposed
and unwrapped film three feet from the safelight on the bench and expose
that for three minutes and then process the film. If in the film we see the
shadow of the coin it means the safe light is not adequate. And if you dont
see the shadow then it is adequate. So remember when you see the coin,
the safelight is inadequate. Okay that is done under safelight condition,
unexposed and unwrapped film and then the film is processed after 3
minutes.

[5] Manual Processing Tanks
[Dr. Jain] Now then the darkroom has tanks. This tank has a bigger tank and
in this bigger tank you have developer and fixer tanks. And these tanks vary
from 1-2 gallons or 5 gallons. If your office is small you are not using too
many films then smaller is better. Then we have inflow of hot or cold water.
And this cold water, the temperature is controlled by thermostat. And then
this water runs around in whats called the water bath around developer and
filter tanks. And then we have a drain and if you want tanks clean they will
go there. And then there is overflow valve. If when water overflows, it
should go there and it should not go into the developer or fixer. So we have
overflow valve. Then in the darkroom we have thermometer and timer.
Thermometer is always kept in the developer. It is not kept in the water
bath or it is not kept in the fixer.

[6] Chemicals for Development processer- Developer
[Dr. Jain] Now in the developing tank we have developing solution and in the
fixer tank we have the fixing solution. And those tanks should have there,
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should be covered with lids. Be sure when you are done with the processing
dont mix the fixer lid on the developer and the developer lid on the fixer
because the developer is alkaline and the fixer is acidic. In the developer we
have various components. One is called Elon or Metol and hydroquinone.
There are two things. And there is developing agent the function of that is
that it reduces the energized silver bromide crystals to metallic silver. So in
the developer what happens, there is a reduction, that is reduced. The
name of the developing agent is silver bromide that is reduced to metallic
silver. And the other component is called sodium sulfite and that is the
preservative. It prevents oxidation of developer. And the third one is sodium
carbonate and this is activated with the solution, called alkaline. It provides
alkaline medium and softens gelatin to allow developing agent to reach silver
bromide crystals. And the last one is potassium bromide and it is called the
restrainer. And the function of the restrainer it controls activity of developing
agents and prevents chemical fog. Okay it stops. When you go from the
developer to the fixer you rinse for 20 seconds during that time the
developer is stopped working. Okay?

[7] Chemicals for Development processer- Fixer
[Dr. Jain] Then we have the fixer and now what happens? That gets reduced
to metallic silver in the fixer, which is called sodium thiosulfate. It works on
the unexposed or undeveloped silver bromide crystals. Remember it is
undeveloped or unexposed silver bromide crystals. And then it is called
clearing solution too. And it removes undeveloped or unexposed silver
bromide crystals from the emulsion. And second it has sodium sulfite which
is preservative. It is same thing as what was in the developer also and it
prevents decomposition of thiosulfate clearing agent. And another one is
potassium aluminum sulfate which is a hardener. It shrinks and hardens
gelatin. Because in developer, the gelatin was sulfur now it turns hardens
again. Now acetic acid, which is acidifier, it maintains acid medium. Because
developer works in alkaline medium and fixer works in acid medium
Any question so far?

[Student] What is gelatin? Is that in the film, like the emulsion? What does
the gelatin do?
[Dr. Jain] See the film is made of gelatin and on gelatin it is coated with
emulsion on both sides, and which has silver bromide crystals.

[8] Film Processing: The Darkroom
[Dr. Jain] Now we discussed so far the function of the developer and fixer.
Then we should know that it works, the best thing to work is time and
temperature. For that we need timer and thermometer. And then there is
film processing. I will discuss the steps for film processing. Then the
development process latent image, developing, rinsing, fixing, washing,
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and drying. These are the various steps in processing. Now we need the
timer to set the time. And we need the thermometer to know the developer
solution in the temperature. And time we are processing we according to
temperature of solution we have to set up the time and we get whatever
solution you get. They give you the timetable therefore so many times you
have to keep the time in the developer for so much time. The optimum is
70 degrees for 4 minutes.

[9] Timer/Thermometer
[Dr. Jain] See this is the timer and this is thermometer. And now in some of
offices, they dont have timer or thermometer so how do they process their
films? Anybody? They process their films by sight method. Okay? They put
the films in the developer solution and they agitate it and then when they
see theres a shadow of the bone or the filling then they go for the water
bath and then put it in the fixer. And that way that process is not scientific
its not right and we may get most the time the films are not diagnostic.

[10] Radiographic Film Processing
[Dr. Jain] Now what happens when we process? See the first one that is
according to the density of the structure that is absorbed and metal of radio-
opaque things; they dont let it pass through that. Only the pulp or caries
they let the x-rays pass through them and they look in the film after fixing
dark. And the metals, they look radio-opaque.

[11] Film Processing: The Darkroom
[Dr. Jain] Let us go with this first. Okay when we put the films.

[10] Radiographic Film Processing
[Dr. Jain] See this is how you know there is contrast in the films. Some
areas, they look black, some white some gray. So contrast is black, white,
and gray. And now when it is put in the developer the developer works and
that reduces the silver bromide crystals to metallic silver. And when it goes
on processing, the metallic silver becomes dark. And when whole emulsion,
then you see two things the dark and the white areas. And then when we
put it in the processor that unexposed area becomes clear and that becomes
white.

[11] Film Processing: The Darkroom
[Dr. Jain] Okay, time-temperature and sight development. Time-
temperature is scientific method and sight development is heat and dry.
Sometimes it is good but most the time it is not good. And the film is not
diagnostic and we cannot make a diagnostic with sight development as good
as we can make it with the time-temperature. Again the time-temperature
we put the thermometer and when we see temperature then we set the
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timer for that time. And after putting the films in the developer, we start the
timer on and when timer rings you bring them out and put them in the
water, leave it for 20-30 minutes and then keep it for dry. Again processing
extraoral films is processed in the same way as we process the intraoral
films. Okay. For processing we use for the manual processing we use the
hangers. The hangers come in various sizes. Yes?

[Student] What is the difference between extraoral and intraoral films?
[Dr. Jain] intraoral is when we put the films inside the mouth. Extraoral is
when we put the films outside the mouth. Example is panoramic, skull
pictures okay. Okay? So those are extraorals. Dr. friedman showed you
extraoral films. They come with screen and non-screen. And when we use
with a screen that energizes the film faster. And intraoral they are not as
processed as extraoral. Okay any questions so far?

[12] Rapid Processing
[Dr. Jain] See this is rapid processing. This is time-temperature; this one.
And then sometimes we are working on patient. His tooth is extracted and
youre not sure if whole tooth is out or not or there is part of root is left. In
that case, we dont want the film for a longer time we just want to see it at
that time so in that case we do the rapid processing or for root canals you
want to see that is has gone to the root canal or not then do the rapid
processing. But that is old method. Now with digital you see them right away
you take the x-rays, as soon as you take it expose the sensors and you can
see the image. In rapid processing it may be done with a hard solution
concentrated solution, or agitation, or combination of any. And what we do
is we put the films see that is safelight [?] and you put them in and process
by dipping it to see that whether you see any [?] or not. And then we put it
in water bath then we put it in the fixer. Or if you are doing another rapid
concentration you can do that you can take the film after developing and
after water bath for 30 seconds and put it in the fixer for three minutes.
Usually in the normal processing we put the film in the fixer twice the
developer. So remember, if it is for four minutes, then at least eight minutes
in the developer. So if you put five minutes in the developer, ten minutes in
the fixer. And now if you are doing the developing taking the film in three
minutes then we come back and put in fixer for another seven minutes and
then we wash them. Okay. So if we dont put it in the fixer for that time or
put the films in fixer less time than films start becoming brown after some
time, maybe one month, ten days, twenty days Okay. Any questions so
far?

[13] Processing Panoramic Film
[Dr. Jain] This is automatic processor. Before we go to automatic processor
there are two ways of processing. Automatic and manual. First we are
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discussing manual. In manual what we do is we take films out of barriers
and go into the dark room and try to keep it at an angle, out of sight and
see that the hanger is clean and the clips are not broken or defective. If they
are broken or defective, change them. Dont use them. After taking out of
film package go and fix the films on the clamps. So you can put one on this
side and one on this side. So whatever series you take 20 films, 18 films, 14
films, take that size. Dont try to use two of the smaller size okay? Your
hangers are sizes from 2-20. Pick up that size. Then we fasten it and after
fastening, tap it on the floor so that any loose films will fall down. And you
can at least restore it, put it back. And if the film is loose and you put in
developer or processer, they will fall in there. Either you loose films or try to
take film out, roll up your sleeves and take films out. You dont want any
mishap to happen so you just tap it. And after that go, when it is completely
loaded, go to developing tank, see the thermometer and as it hits film in
developer so that there are no bubbles. Okay and cover with the lid and
start the timer. And when the timer rings, take the hanger out and put in
water bath for 20 seconds and go to the fixer for 10 minutes. If it is for 5
minutes then 10 minutes. Then after that put it in the water bath for 20-30
minutes. And then keep it for drying. For drying you can keep it for
overnight or there are dryers, you can leave it in the dryer, which takes 10-
15 minutes to dry. As soon as the film is developed, you should try to
process right away. Dont wait until the next day or 2 hours or 4 hours
because then the quality of the processed films is not that good. So you
have to do right away. And dont leave the hangers in the fixer overnight.
Because the film becomes all cleared. Okay. So I will tell you the mistakes
okay. Meantime, try to keep the record of which films are on the record with
patient name and number. Write it here like this or the lab number. So you
have to keep it like that. And once the films are dry you can mount them or
keep them in an envelope with the patients name and number if you dont
want to mount them right away. Okay. Mounting you can do one hour or two
hour later, or the next day, it doesnt make a difference. But processing has
to be done the same day right after exposure. Any questions so far? Now the
manual processing Yes?

[Student] How long do you have to put it in the water bath again?
[Dr. Jain] See in the developer if it is 5 min then water bath 20 sec and then
in the fixer 10 min. Then in the water bath to remove fixer solution for 20-
30 min then you dry it, okay?

[Student] rapid processing?
[Dr. Jain] Now I told you when we use digital we dont use rapid processing.
But if any case you dont have the digital then you want to read it right
away. You going to have the solutions, concentrated solution or other
solutions and then you can process with them. But there is no permanent
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life. Okay because they do not fix good. So if only you want to see after
endodontic or after extraction. Now during your time things have changed a
lot. We had manual processing to automatic processing and now we have
got the digital. [mumbles]. Okay with manual processing, they come with
different sizes because of the size of the films. We can use intraoral films
with this or we can use extraoral films, 5x10, 8x10, 6x12. In other words,
panoramic or extraoral films.

And see this on my right side, with the black film. [mumbles] and the film
comes from outside. This is on the left film you are looking at the film. The
film comes from here. And here automatic processer has many advantages.
The big advantage is it is time-sequence Vs time-temperature. The way it is
that is its regulated time-sequence. The solution has a certain temperature,
and around that temperature, it works, okay? And then it goes to the fixer.
And now remember very carefully that in developer we dont use water bath.
In the manual we were using developer, then water bath, then fixer. Here in
automatic processor it goes right from developer to fixer then it goes to the
water and then in the dryer. Everything goes in the machine and the whole
process takes 5-8 minutes. Remember in manual only developer takes about
5 minutes. Then fixer 10 minutes and dry. It is very fast. It is not only that.
We can use 4 films every time. So number of films is also very fast. The only
disadvantage is that you have to pay for the price of the automatic
processer, which is expensive. Then it needs, some of the automatic
processors need plumbing. Some dont.

[14] Environmental Concerns
[Dr. Jain] Now there are regulations. State regulations. Here we have to
dispose of unused films, solutions, and the waste. The waste goes same
way. Like you have to have a contractor and he picks up. Like sharps. Now
we have to retrieve silver from developer or fixer? From fixer because that is
where it works on the unexposed. So the fixer you cannot put in the regular
sewage. You need have some sort of device with [mumbles] It is not that
expensive that you get so much silver when you retrieve it. Still you cannot
dispose silver in the drain. You have to leave it then throw it. That is
regulations. Then there are lead you know the film packet there is a
blackboard on one side there is a lead file that lead file we cannot throw. So
what we do is if you are using [?] film you can store them and throw them.
You recycle it.

[15] Automatic Processing
[Dr. Jain] And about the automatic processor. We have transport system,
and according to the size of the film we have the size of the machine, then
we have safelight, plumbing, automatic replenishment. What is
replenishment? See when are using solution, they are exhausted and if they
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are exhausted either you have to change them or we can add some solution
in that. So for everyday even if you are doing manual processing or doing
automatic processing, we need replenishment. Those solutions are sent by
the manufacturer or you can use the same developer and fixer to replenish
it. And usually for manual processing we use 8 ounce of replenisher
everyday. And the solution has to be up to the level so that when we are
developing the part of the film is not unexposed. Okay if there are no
solution it will not get processed. I will show you later. Then take care and
maintenance.

[16] Automatic Processing
[Dr. Jain] These are the automatic processers. And the film goes from this
side (left) and comes from this.

[17] Transport system
[Dr. Jain] The automatic processer runs with transport. There the transport
may be rollers or tracks with the gears. See here the film goes from that
end, comes through the rolls and comes to fixer again. Now if we are loading
and the films roll too fast, then what happens? The first set has not crossed
over the rollers. And overlapping is not the right way.

[16] Automatic Processing
[Dr. Jain] So there are four slots here. When we are rolling the exposed
films, try to use the next row, 1, 3 2, 4, so give enough time for the first film
to go from one roller to another roller. If we use the same slot then we get
overlap. Or some people do it with four films. Open four films go through
slots. Then they wait and open four films and go another four. If you dont
want to wait four at a time then alternate the rows. This is very important
because most of the films are [mumble]. Now if we see carefully they are
going through developer and after developing there is no water bath. It goes
into the fixer. And the water bath here the rollers they squeeze the
developer here before going into the developer so you dont take developer
into the fixer solution. And after fixer you come in to the water bath then dry
again. The whole thing takes about 5-7 minutes. The way you set up
temperature of developer solution. And now, in some of the machines that
are automatic they have a switch for rapid processing. We turn the switch
and it goes zzz and comes out in one minute.

[18] Automatic Processer With Daylight Loader
[Dr. Jain] And there are some daylight loader in some machines that take
bigger size and they are called perirolls (?). In old clinics most are called
periorolls. And here we have to take eight films at a time. After eight films
go in we can take another eight. The whole processing is the same but it
goes on tracks and doesnt go on the rollers. Some problems with the
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rollers. See where hands go in. if it loose the light leaks and when it
becomes loose you have to change the whole part.

[19] Quality Assurance In The Darkroom
[Dr. Jain] And now Im not going to discuss more further the quality
assurance. Dr. Lampert is going to give you a lecture on Tuesday about the
quality assurance. Here what we do is we have to see the quality of the film
when we process the films that they are of the same quality. Because what
happens is the solution gets exhausted and you dont know what happens.
So you have a reference film. You compare with that and press one or two.
And you check that and then you know it is time to change solution. Second
thing the solution should be changed. If you did a normal workload. 2-3
weeks. Normal workload is 30 films if you did 30 films per day. And now
even if you are away or you dont use the solution. Still get exhausted and
have to change them right away. If your office is closed for three weeks and
you just changed the solution when you come back you have to change the
solution. It is not even if you didnt use the solution for three weeks the
solution is still good. They have to be changed periodically on time.

[20] Reference Film and Step Wedge
[Dr. Jain] Now this is a reference film. This is a step wedge. And you expose
the film under this and then you get the reference film. And whenever you
develop film you see that the exposed film is close to the reference film.

[21] Film duplication
[Dr. Jain] This is duplication. This is the last slide and then you can have the
break. Duplication. The films can be duplicated. You dont have to take twice
the film doesnt have to be exposed twice. You can duplicate the films and if
you duplicate the films, you can see the machine. And there is light. You put
film through duplicator under that glass and put the duplicating films.
Duplicating films have emulsion on one side not on both side because you
dont want to spend too much money. Close it and expose the light and
process films in the same way as you do the regular films. In manual
processing or automatic processing. And only when duplicating films, if your
original films are light or dark you want to make it normal contrast then you
have to increase or decrease the times. If your films are light and want to
make dark then you expose more than normal. Then films are dark and you
want to make them light then give you want to do more exposure.
Duplicating films are not done too much these days because now we dont
need administrative films.

[Student] Did you say more exposure for both?
[Dr. Jain] Pardon?

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[Student] You said when it is dark and you want to make it light?
[Dr. Jain] See if the films are not normal or dark you can make dark films
lighter for duplication or you can make light films darker. If the films are
light then you make less exposure. So they become dark. If the films are
dark and you want to make them light then give them more exposure.

[22] Common Processing Errors/Remedies.
[Dr. Jain] Okay I think, okay that we can start the next time. I give you 10
minutes break and be back in 10 minutes.

[break]

[22] Common Processing Errors/Remedies.
[Dr. Jain] Okay. Let us start again. So far we discussed how we processed
with the various solutions of processing things. And now after processing we
see the films and some of the films are not developed good or not good
diagnostic values. The most common causes or processing defects are one
fogged film, then underdeveloped film, overdeveloped film, developer cutoff,
clear film, stained film, and discolored film. These are most common
problems. We will discuss one by one.

[23] Fogged film
[Dr. Jain] This is fogged film. What you see here the contrast is not good
and most of it is mostly grayish. The reason is the fogged film can be
number one, it can be expired film. Okay the film is old. And the emulsions
are no good so it can be expired date. Or when we stored the film at higher
temperature, more than 82 then also the film will become fogged. So see
the darkroom where the films are stored, the temperature are not too much.
Or can be caused by secondary radiation. We should be at least 6 feet away
from the source of x-ray. And that is why when we expose the film, exposed
and unexposed films they are outside the room. They are not in the room.
And then there can be light leaked and you can check by closing the door
and see where the light is coming from. Or can be defected by the safelight.
If there is a defective safelight we can perform coin test. Remember the coin
test. The coin is placed on unexposed films 3 feet away from the light for 3
minutes. And if you dont see any coin then it means it is okay. If you see
any coin then the safelight is not. Now, how can the safelight be defective?
See even, there are filters in the safelight. If filter are cracked, then the light
leaks there. In the safelight the bulb which we use is not of the [mumbles].
It may be that we are not using the proper voltage of the bulb. For GBX2
filter we are use 15 volts and for yellow filter we use 7 - 10 volts. If we
are using more than 15 for GBX2 filter than intensity is too much and you
have fogged film. We can see it is not of diagnostic value.

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[24] Underdeveloped/Overdeveloped Films
[Dr. Jain] Now the second is underexposed and overexposed. When the film
is underexposed we can call it light film. The light film can be if you are
processing and solution is cold, means not enough time and temperature
and you take the film out earlier. Then it becomes light. Or there are other
factors while we are taking x-rays. If the x-ray is very close to the face. If
we are too much far away then we are increasing the distance and then we
are [mumbles]. That can also cause light films. And dark films, when the
films are overdeveloped. If we leave film in developer for more time than we
are supposed to the film starts becoming dark. And if we leave it for long,
long time more time than the specific time, then it will become all black.
Okay. So in the developer if we leave film more than the time then the film
becomes all dark. Okay after the time working with metallicsilver they start
working on exposed part too and become dark. Okay.

[25] Developer Cutoff
[Dr. Jain] This is the developer cutoff. See how I told you to use the
replenisher. And if we dont use the replenisher, then top of the tank is low.
And you process films and portion of film is not covering that becomes
developer cutoff. So we have to make sure that we replenish the solutions
all the time.

[26] Clear Film
[Dr. Jain] And this one we call it clear film. We expose the film. The film was
energized and we [mumbles] Now, clear film becomes if you leave it in the
fixer for a long time. Even after fixer we leave in the water bath more than
20-30 minutes it starts washing and films becomes clear. Either leave it in
the fixer or water bath for long time. Second reason is we put the film by
mistake in the wrong tank first. Instead of putting it in the developer, we put
it in the fixer than the developer then film becomes all clear. And another
reason we can think of, if you dont turn on the machine. Then there is no
exposure. When there is no exposure, than everything is clear.

[27] Stained Film
[Dr. Jain] These are stained films. So while we are using the darkroom we
have to make sure the darkroom is clean especially when working on
platform. It should be clean and if dirty platform and put the films by
mistake, then contaminated with mistakes and the films come back all
stained. And while leaving it for the dryer, the platforms is dirty than also
become stained. So you have to make sure the darkroom is maintained,
clean and dry.

[28] Insufficient Fixing
Transcribed by Tina Park July 18, 2014
Page 13 of 15
[Dr. Jain] This is what insufficient fixing means. You dont leave it in the
fixer or twice the developer, it becomes like this, or take the film earlier,
okay, while cleaning, and dont put it back in the fixer another three minutes
or five minutes, and that is what we need the film for archival life, archival
means long life, and if you dont fix it good it becomes after some time it
starts turning brown here. Okay.

[29] Common Processing Errors Remedies
[Dr. Jain] Now while we process the films and after we process the film we
see these mistakes. One mistake is torn emulsion. Okay, let me show you
how it looks like.

[30] Radiograph With Torn Emulsion
[Dr. Jain] See what happened while you were drying the films? Two film, two
racks. They touch each other. When theyre dry you try to separate them
and the emulsion is torn, and that is torn emulsion. Be sure the films dont
touch each other.

[31] Scratched Film
[Dr. Jain] Another problem. See these lines? These white lines are scratches.
Okay. If you put film hangers side by side and one of the film hanger is
defective or broken, then that can make scratches.

[32] Fluoride Artifact
[Dr. Jain] Now this is thumb impression. Okay. And we call it fluoride
artifact. What happens when we are using fluoride with the children and we
process the films without washing hands? We process them and we put our
prints on the films. We can avoid very easily by washing our hands before
processing the films.

[33] Reticulation
[Dr. Jain] Now this is very interesting. This is called reticulation. Now here
the film emulsion is smaller. What happens is when in the developer your
temperature is too much and you put it in the washer and the temperature
is too cold. Okay. If the difference in temperature is too much, then the
emulsion gets like that. You can use thermostatically controlled water bath
then this doesnt happen.

[34] Artifact Caused By Air Bubbles
[Dr. Jain] Now these are air bubbles. And if you dont agitate when you put
the hanger in and you dont agitate the solution, some air bubbles get
trapped on the film. So be sure to agitate when you put the rack in the
developer or fixer. You should agitate it. Okay.

Transcribed by Tina Park July 18, 2014
Page 14 of 15
[35] Static Marks
[Dr. Jain] This is another interesting thing that happens. It is called static
electricity. It happens during winter most of the time and in winter when you
see you are on a carpet or anything we develop static electricity on our
hands. Unless we touch the conductor. Okay. Or we touch the metal and we
get a shock. So instead of touching the metal you open the film and touch
the films then you get the static. Static usually happens in extraoral films
because they are big films. When you pull them out it has more static. When
you see the panoramic, there might be tree-like branches. Here is a very
small area.

[36] Automatic Processing Errors
[Dr. Jain] Okay that was all the problems with the processing. And now we
have daylight loaders, and in the daylight loaders we have dirty rollers and
overlapped films. Now daylight loaders like I told you, if we dont use the
machines with the safelight in the darkroom we can use them with the
daylight loaders in normal time. In daylight loaders we get fogging in the
films.

[37] Light Leak From A Daylight Loader
[Dr. Jain] This is fogging and this is actual film. See what happens here. It
looks like yeah yeah yeah. But actually there is nothing there. And again in
the daylight loaders when we go in the (?) we have the (?). And sometimes
the (?) are loose Or sometimes we have rings and watches, and when we
go into the (?) [mumbles]. And the films are not in, we leave the light on, So
you have to wait for films to go inside. Okay. And then take the films out.

[38] Dirty Processing Rollers
[Dr. Jain] This is if the rollers are dirty especially after coming back from the
weekend or in the morning. The rollers, they have the tendency to have fixer
gets left on the rollers. And put them on when the film goes through. For
that what we can do is we can let one big film go through the roller. You can
use it with [mumbles] or what we used to call cleaning films. You can use
that to clean the rollers.

[39] Overlapping Films During Automatic Processing
[Dr. Jain] Now this is overlapped films. See this is what I was stressing again
and again. In automatic processer we dont have to feed fast in the same
slot. We have to alternate slots or use four films and go one two three four.
Wait and use another four films and go there so that there are enough time
to go from one roller to another roller. Any questions so far?

[summary]

Transcribed by Tina Park July 18, 2014
Page 15 of 15
This is my last slide so for a few minutes let me summarize processing. In
processing you go to the darkroom and then turn on the safelight. Open the
film package and then put it on the racks. Okay we are using manual
processing. Put them on the racks. And then before putting that start the
timer. The time is in the developer. And be sure to make the solution if you
are going in the morning, for the first time, to make sure to stir the solution
so that it is all the same temperature. And then while dipping the hanger
agitate it so there are no bubbles and cover the tank with a lid. And start the
time. When the timer rings, we take the hanger out and put it in the water
bath for 20 seconds and then put it into the fixer. In fixer you also agitate it
and leave the cover on that and until the fixer is complete we put in the fixer
twice the developer minute and we use the safelight. Once the fixer is
complete then we can turn the white light on in the room. Then we can leave
it in the water for 20-30 minutes and then hang on hang dryer for drying or
hang clip hangers for drying or leave it in the room for drying. Or sometimes
we have dryer put it in the dryer and take out for drying. And meantime,
you should know all the films you have to write the name and number on
your hanger for which patient its for. Or some have numbers on the
hangers, one two three four. And they write in the book which number you
put it. It should not be mixed up. While you are using automatic processor
dont leave the room without leaving anything on the machine. So the next
person knows that someone is there and how many films are there so they
dont mix up their films. They can put it in the envelope. So over here we
are using the automatic processor. Leave something in the machine. And
then as soon as you mount write the patient name and number on the
mount so that you dont get it mixed up. Any questions?

[end of slides]

And now again about the exam. Next Friday try to be on time. Because if
someone is absent for no reason we dont give a makeup. Only makeup if
absent for some reason and for that reason you want to be absent let me
know beforehand, before the exam. I am in 1A. I am in there everyday
except Thursday. Okay, you can come 9 or 8:30 to 4. You can come and let
me know. And the questions will be multiple choice and I dont think there
will be any questions we didnt cover. Try to read Dr. Farmers book and
whatever slides we showed you. We dont want (?) We want you to
remember how much what we told you. This is subject not very interesting
subject. But we try to make it okay short. So far our result is to not fail
anyone. Work hard. Our exam is not hard you can get easily pass the class.
Any questions? Okay.

[40] Thank You
[Dr. Jain] And again try to come on Thursday for review.