ABSTRACT
Although dental radiography is definitely trending towards digital technology, standard 'analog' films are certainly still diagnostic and require less initial investment. Hand dental film processing can be performed in a dark room using household cups or bowls. Hand developing methods utilize one of two different techniques to correctly produce an image on the film: time/temperature or sight. Once the film is removed from the packet, it can be placed directly into the developer solution; however, some authors recommend an initial short placement in water. It is critical for the films to be thoroughly rinsed after completing the fixation process. When using small cups, the chemicals used in hand development must be replaced frequently. Light fogging in a dark room can be confirmed by placing a coin on an opened film for a few minutes and then developing the film. Finally, if the wrong color safelight/filter is being used, overexposure and nondiagnostic films can result.
