Metal braces are a common orthodontic appliance, and many people who wear them worry about whether the metal components will trigger security alarms. The short answer is that it is exceptionally rare for modern orthodontic braces to set off walk-through metal detectors, especially those found in airports and other high-security environments. While braces are indeed made of metal, the amount and type of material used are specifically designed to be ignored by contemporary security technology.
The Metals Used in Braces
Orthodontic appliances rely on carefully selected metals for their strength and biocompatibility within the mouth. The main components, the brackets and archwires, are typically composed of high-grade stainless steel alloys. These materials offer the durability and corrosion resistance necessary to withstand the oral environment over a period of many months or years.
Modern archwires often incorporate nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloys, which provide a unique property called shape memory, allowing them to exert continuous, gentle forces on the teeth. Titanium alloys are also commonly used because they are lightweight and highly resistant to rust, making them ideal for long-term placement.
Factors Determining Detection
The reason these metallic components do not typically trigger an alarm lies in both the physics of the material and the sophistication of the detection equipment. Walk-through metal detectors operate by generating an electromagnetic field and listening for a change in that field caused by a metallic object passing through. This change is directly related to the total mass of metal present.
Braces consist of only a small, distributed mass of metal, which falls well below the minimum threshold required to trigger an alarm in most security systems. Airport detectors, for example, are calibrated to detect a specific quantity of material. The small brackets and fine wires of braces contain less metal than many belt buckles or zippers, which the systems are intentionally set to ignore to avoid constant false alarms.
The low-frequency electromagnetic fields used by most security scanners are designed to screen for larger, concentrated metal objects like weapons. Because the metal in braces is spread across multiple small components, it does not create a strong enough electromagnetic signature in one specific area to surpass the machine’s sensitivity setting. This deliberate calibration ensures efficient security screening without flagging common, small metal items or benign medical devices.
Navigating Security Screening
For individuals with braces, navigating security checkpoints, such as those at airports, should be a smooth and uneventful process. The most practical step is to divest yourself of other metallic items, such as keys, coins, and bulky jewelry, before entering the walk-through detector. This reduces the overall metallic mass you carry and prevents any accumulation of metal from triggering a false alarm.
While an alarm from braces is highly unlikely, a combination of factors, such as unusually high detector sensitivity or a large amount of other metal accessories, could theoretically cause a trigger. If the alarm does sound, the procedure is straightforward and involves informing the security officer that you have orthodontic braces. You may then be subject to secondary screening, which typically involves a quick sweep with a handheld metal detector or a full-body scanner.
Security personnel are trained to handle the presence of medical and dental devices. The handheld wand can pinpoint the source of the metal, quickly identifying the braces as the cause. Carrying a note from your orthodontist is generally unnecessary for standard braces. The entire process of secondary screening is usually quick and discreet.