What is a latent image in radiography?

A latent image in radiography refers to the invisible image formed on a film or sensor after it has been exposed to radiation but before it has been developed. This image is created whenX-rays interact with the silver halide crystals present in the film. Specifically, certain crystals become energized due to the photons from the radiation exposure, leading to a change that creates a latent or "hidden" image.

The importance of the latent image lies in its necessity for the development process; it is this latent image that, once developed, will appear as a visible image on the film or radiograph. This phenomenon is critical in understanding how radiographic films function and how the process of development will reveal the diagnostic images essential for evaluation in dentistry and medicine.