It is generally safe to undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan with braces, though certain considerations apply. Modern orthodontic appliances are designed to minimize interference with MRI. Understanding the science behind MRI and brace materials helps clarify why specific precautions or adjustments might be necessary to ensure both patient safety and image clarity.
The Science Behind the Concern
MRI technology uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to generate detailed images of internal body structures. The MRI scanner aligns the protons within the body’s water molecules, then briefly knocks them out of alignment with radiofrequency pulses. As these protons realign, they emit signals detected by the MRI machine, which are then converted into images. This imaging process does not involve ionizing radiation, unlike X-rays or CT scans.
Braces are constructed from various materials, each interacting differently with the magnetic field. Traditional metal braces often utilize stainless steel. Other common materials include nickel-titanium (NiTi) for archwires, and non-metallic options like ceramic or plastic aligners. While some older brace materials were ferromagnetic, most contemporary braces use non-ferrous or weakly magnetic alloys.
Despite being generally MRI-safe, metallic components in braces can cause image distortion, known as artifacts. These artifacts appear as signal loss, blurring, or streaks on the MRI images, particularly if the scanned area is close to the braces, such as the head or neck. Radiologists can often adjust imaging parameters or use specific MRI sequences to minimize these distortions, helping to obtain diagnostically useful images.
Another theoretical concern is the heating of metallic brace components due to the radiofrequency pulses. Research indicates that the temperature changes experienced by modern orthodontic brackets and wires during MRI scans are clinically insignificant. This minimal temperature increase poses no notable risk to the patient’s oral tissues. The possibility of braces moving during a scan is also extremely rare with modern materials.
Practical Steps for Your MRI
Inform your referring physician and the MRI technologist about your braces well in advance of the scan. This allows the facility to prepare and implement any specific protocols for patients with orthodontic appliances.
Providing details about the specific type and material of your braces is also helpful. Your orthodontist can supply this information, which enables the MRI staff to assess compatibility. MRI facilities have established procedures for scanning patients with various metal implants, including orthodontic devices.
Medical professionals can employ several strategies to optimize the MRI scan in the presence of braces. Technologists may adjust specific MRI coils or imaging sequences to reduce artifacts and improve image quality. For individuals with removable aligners, these must be taken out before entering the MRI scanner.
Temporary removal of fixed braces for an MRI is uncommon and typically considered only in specific situations where the scan area is directly impacted and images are otherwise non-diagnostic. This would require coordination with an orthodontist. In rare instances where an MRI is problematic, alternative imaging techniques like X-rays or CT scans might be considered, although MRI often provides unique diagnostic information.