Dental Hardware

Dental Hardware and MRI Scans

Braces, palate expanders, and other dental devices may be an issue for MRI. While many materials may be MRI safe, others are not. Some dental hardware may cause image artifacts depending on the area of the body being imaged, resulting in decreased image quality.

If you have dental hardware, please alert the MRI scheduling team when you make your MRI appointment.

MRI Safety and Dental Hardware

Careful inspection helps determine if dental hardware is safe for MRI. Using a handheld magnet, MR personnel will evaluate your dental devices.

In some cases, your dentist or orthodontist may need to remove the hardware before your MRI procedure and replace it after.

Braces

From a safety standpoint braces are generally safe to image with MRI. Depending on the type of MRI ordered, braces can sometimes cause distortion in the images, making it difficult to see the anatomy clearly.

Referring Providers

If the head or neck is being scanned, check with a section radiologist to see if the braces might interfere with the MRI images.

After discussion, the ordering provider may decide –

  1. It’s justified to remove the brace brackets and/or wire
    1. Then write the order to have brace wire removed, and
    2. Coordinate with the patient on what dental provider should receive this note/order.
  2. Alternative imaging is preferred
    1. Then write order for alternate imaging (CT, US, etc.)
  3. MRI should be attempted with braces in place

Patients with dental devices

Follow up with your ordering physician if you have questions about their decision for your MRI with or without your dental device.

MRI Safety for Patients with Orthodontic Palate Expanders

Palate expanders are generally considered MRI Conditional when cemented in place. However, palate expanders can have a small ferrous component, so MR safety heating precautions are advised.

Best practice is to have patients remove palate expanders before the MRI, if possible.

  1. Ask the patient if the palate expander is removeable. If so, remove and then store the palate expander with the patient’s belongings.
  2. If the palate expander is cemented in place, ask patient to check and confirm that palate expander is securely cemented in place, not loose.
  3. IF NOT removeable and not loose, then the MR technologist will slowly approach with an approved, standard handheld magnet to identify if the expander is ferrous.
    1. If the patient experiences discomfort or tugging, then patient should alert the MRI technologist and DO NOT PROCEED with the MRI.
    2. MR technologist will then notify radiologist and patient care team via standardized communication
    3. The patient can consult with the ordering MD about removal of the palate expander and then reschedule MR.
  4. If NON-Ferrous or the patient states that the amount of pull and/or tugging is minimal and confirms securement of the palate expander, then:
    1. Proceed with 1.5T/3T, normal mode
    2. Risk of image artifact, image check with radiologist depending on area being imaged.
    3. Patients should be educated to immediately squeeze the ball if they experience any discomfort during the MRI procedure.

 

Last updated 10/14/25