What action must be taken before putting on gloves during dental radiography?

Before putting on gloves during dental radiography, the dental radiographer must adjust the dental chair to ensure that the patient is positioned correctly and comfortably for the procedure. Proper positioning is essential as it helps in obtaining accurate images while minimizing patient movement, which can lead to poor-quality radiographs.

Once the chair is adjusted and the patient is positioned appropriately, the radiographer can then don gloves before beginning any procedures involving direct contact with the patient or the materials used in the process. This sequence of actions emphasizes both the safety of the patient and the effectiveness of the radiographic procedure.

The other actions listed are not prerequisites for putting on gloves. For instance, placing a lead apron on the patient is important for radiation protection, but it is done after the chair adjustment and before the exposure begins. Rinsing the patient's mouth may not be necessary in all situations, and washing radiography equipment pertains to infection control after a procedure rather than prior to putting on gloves.