Can I have an MRI if I have braces?

Author: Shen Jinjuan, Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University

Reviewer: Cheng Xiaofang, Chief Physician, Guangzhou Medical University Brain Hospital

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most advanced imaging techniques. It is non-invasive and radiation-free, especially in the diagnosis of diseases related to the nervous system. It is an indispensable diagnostic method in clinical practice. Usually, the presence of pacemakers, neurostimulators, cochlear implants, non-fixed metal foreign bodies in the body are absolute contraindications for MRI examinations. However, most of the new implants currently used in clinical practice are magnetically compatible and can be examined by MRI under certain conditions.

Have you ever encountered this situation during medical examination? You waited in line for a long time, waited for a long time for the MRI examination, and finally were told that it could not be performed because of braces?

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1. Can people who wear braces not undergo MRI examinations?

Some people can undergo MRI examinations, but some cannot, which is mainly determined by the material of the braces. For example, people with metal braces cannot undergo MRI examinations. Although the metal detectors currently used in clinical practice may not be able to detect metal braces, the quality of MRI images is often affected by metal artifacts and cannot meet diagnostic requirements.

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2. Braces of different materials and whether MRI examination is possible

1. Ordinary steel braces are generally made of stainless steel materials, such as cobalt-chromium and nickel-chromium. They are mostly worn by the elderly. They are not ferromagnetic and are not affected by MRI examinations.

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2. Self-ligating braces Self-ligating braces are divided into metal self-ligating and ceramic self-ligating.

① Metal self-ligating braces are made of stainless steel or aluminum with micro steel wires installed inside. They have strong ferromagnetism and have a particularly great impact on the quality of MRI images of the head, face, and neck. Accurate diagnosis may be impossible due to the loss of image information, so the wearer cannot undergo MRI examination.

② Ceramic self-ligating braces are mainly made of alumina ceramics and fixed with micro steel wires. Because steel wires affect the quality of MRI images, they are not recommended for examination.

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3. Bracketless braces are also called invisible braces. Their main material is bioceramics, a polymer nano-resin material. This material looks almost transparent and does not contain any metal material, so it has no effect on MRI examinations.

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4. Ceramic braces are mainly made of alumina ceramic materials, which have good biocompatibility, are relatively invisible, and are not affected by MRI examinations.

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5. Lingual braces are braces that directly install the brackets and wires on the tongue side of the mouth. They cannot be seen from the outside and have good aesthetics. However, because they contain wires, they are not suitable for MRI examinations.

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Through the introduction of this article, I believe everyone has some understanding of braces knowledge and whether MRI examinations can be performed. Before the MRI examination, tell the doctor in advance the material of your braces so that the doctor can determine whether an MRI examination can be performed, which can effectively reduce unnecessary waiting time.