How can a dental hygienist minimize distortion in a panoramic image?

To minimize distortion in a panoramic image, ensuring proper patient positioning is crucial. When a patient is not positioned correctly within the panoramic unit, it can lead to various types of distortions, including elongation or foreshortening of dental structures. Proper alignment of the patient's mid-sagittal plane and occlusal plane with the machine's guidelines helps to capture an accurate and clear image.

If a patient is slouched or not positioned centrally, it can cause parts of their anatomy to appear stretched or compressed, which would not represent the true dimensions and relationships of the teeth and bone structures. Therefore, strict adherence to the correct positioning protocol significantly impacts the quality and reliability of the panoramic radiograph.

The other options, while they may influence different aspects of imaging, do not address the primary factor of distortion as effectively as positioning. For example, using a lower film speed or reducing exposure time relates more to image detail and radiation safety rather than positional accuracy. Applying pressure to the film could introduce artifacts rather than enhance image quality. Hence, proper patient positioning stands out as the most relevant choice for minimizing distortion in panoramic imaging.