In dental radiography, what is primary radiation?

Primary radiation refers to the initial beam of radiation that is generated at the X-ray tube and exits the tube towards the patient. This radiation is essential for imaging as it is what ultimately interacts with the tissues of the patient to create diagnostic images. The quality and quantity of primary radiation are critical in determining the effectiveness of the radiographic procedure. Understanding primary radiation is fundamental in dental radiography because it highlights the source of the diagnostic information obtained.

Other aspects such as the radiation that passes through the patient, is absorbed by tissues, or filtered out relate to different stages of radiation's interaction with matter, but they do not define the concept of primary radiation itself. The focus here is on the initial radiation produced by the tube, which sets the foundation for the radiographic process.