In imaging, an increased 'mA' results in which of the following?

Increasing the milliamperage (mA) during imaging refers to an increase in the current flowing through the x-ray tube, which directly affects the number of x-rays produced. When the mA is increased, more x-ray photons are generated, leading to a higher quantity of radiation reaching the imaging receptor. This increase in radiation results in a denser image, making it appear brighter on the radiograph.

A brighter image is important, as it enhances the visibility of structures in dental radiography, allowing for more accurate diagnosis and evaluation. In this context, greater brightness is indicative of more exposed areas on the film or image receptor due to the higher number of x-rays contributing to the image formation.

Other options like greater image distortion, higher contrast, and lower density would not typically result from increasing the mA. While higher contrast results from adjusting factors related to kV and exposure time, and lower density could be associated with reduced mA, higher mA specifically leads to a brighter and more easily interpretable image, making the selection of the bright image the correct focus.