What does the fixer contribute to the film image?

The role of the fixer in the photographic processing of radiographic film is integral to ensuring that the image is stable and usable for diagnostic purposes. The fixer contributes by removing unexposed silver halide crystals from the film emulsion. This action allows only the developed areas, which appear as dark images, to remain visible while the unexposed areas become transparent, producing the white parts of the image.

By doing so, the fixer not only ensures that the image is preserved and does not continue to develop with further exposure to light but also clarifies the contrast between different parts of the film, thereby enhancing the diagnostic quality of the radiograph. The fixer effectively "fixes" the image, making it permanent, which is essential for accurate interpretation in dental practice.