Final answer:
German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen is credited with the first practical use of radiographs in dentistry in 1896, thanks to his discovery of X-rays.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dentist who is credited with the first practical use of radiographs in dentistry in 1896 is Wilhelm Röntgen. He was a German physicist who discovered X-rays while experimenting with electrical currents and cathode ray tubes. In 1895, Röntgen created the first durable record of the internal parts of a living human with an X-ray image of his wife's hand.
This groundbreaking discovery led to the rapid use of X-rays in medicine, including dentistry, to detect injuries and diseases. Röntgen's work revolutionized diagnostic procedures and he was honored with the first Nobel Prize for Physics in 1901 for his discovery.