What type of radiation is used to produce dental images?

The correct answer is that dental images are produced using ionizing radiation. This form of radiation has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, which allows it to penetrate various materials, including human tissue. When ionizing radiation is directed towards a dental x-ray film or digital sensor, it creates a latent image that can be developed into a visible dental image, such as a radiograph.

Ionizing radiation is critical in dentistry because it provides the necessary information for diagnosing oral health conditions. Techniques using ionizing radiation include traditional X-rays, digital radiography, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

The other options, such as primary radiation, refers to the initial radiation emitted from an x-ray source and is not specific to the process of image creation. Secondary radiation refers to radiation that is scattered or emitted after the primary beam interacts with matter, which does not contribute directly to the formation of the diagnostic images. Thermal radiation is unrelated to dental imaging, as it involves the emission of energy based on temperature and is not used in the production of dental images.