Can You Have an MRI With Dental Implants?
What MRI means for titanium and zirconia implants, image artefacts and how to prepare for a scan.
Checked by our editors. A dentist review of this article is planned but has not happened yet.
Can you have an MRI with dental implants? Generally yes. Implants are usually made of titanium, which is not ferromagnetic, but they can distort the images near your mouth, so always tell the radiographer you have them.
MRI scanners use a powerful magnet, so it is natural to worry about anything metal in your body. For most implant patients the practical issue is image quality rather than safety, and it mainly matters when the scan is of the head, face or neck. Here is what the evidence says and how to prepare.
Are titanium dental implants safe in an MRI scanner?
A literature review on dental materials and MRI, hosted by the US National Library of Medicine, notes that dental implants are made of non-ferromagnetic materials (titanium). Non-ferromagnetic means they are not strongly attracted by the magnet in the way iron or some steels are. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says implants can distort MRI and X-ray images and advises telling imaging staff you have one, adding that it is not aware of adverse events from these procedures.
For your own scan, the advice of the imaging team always takes priority. Mention your implants when they ask about metal or devices, and let them decide whether anything needs to be done.
Will implants affect the quality of the scan?
They can, depending on where the scan is and what the implant and crown are made of. The same review summarises studies showing:
- artefacts from implants were often minor and did not jeopardise scan evaluation
- titanium and titanium-zirconium alloy implants can still cause an extensive signal void close to the implant
- zirconia implants were clearly definable with only minor distortion
- stainless steel orthodontic brackets caused the greatest image distortion of the dental materials studied
An “artefact” here simply means a dark or distorted area on the image. If the scan is of your knee or lower back, an implant in your jaw is unlikely to matter. If the radiologist needs to see your jaw, sinuses or tongue, it may.
| Dental item | What the review reports |
|---|---|
| Titanium implant | Non-ferromagnetic; usually minor artefacts, but can cause signal voids nearby |
| Zirconia implant | Only minor distortion in the studies reviewed |
| Stainless steel braces | Greatest image distortion; recommended for removal before head and neck MRI |
| Magnetic denture attachments (keepers) | Should ideally be removed before head and neck MRI |
| Fixed bridges | Cannot simply be removed; fixation should be checked before and after MRI |
What about implant-retained dentures with magnets?
Some implant-supported dentures clip on with small magnets. The review advises that ferromagnetic devices should ideally be removed from the mouth before an MRI, and that patients with magnetic keepers who need comprehensive head and neck MRI must have them removed. If your denture uses magnets, tell both your dentist and the imaging department well before the appointment, because removing a keeper may need a dental visit.
How should you prepare for an MRI if you have implants?
- Tell the imaging team. Mention implants, crowns, bridges, braces and any denture attachments on your screening form.
- Know your implant system. The FDA recommends asking your dentist for the brand and model of your implant and keeping the record. That information can help the imaging team.
- Take removable dentures out if asked, and ask whether any attachments need attention.
- Say where the scan is. Artefacts mostly matter when the area being scanned is close to your mouth.
- Ask your dentist if you are unsure what your restorations are made of.
Do implants affect dental X-rays or CT scans?
The FDA notes that implants can distort X-ray images as well as MRI, so mention them for any imaging, not only MRI. For a refresher on how the implant itself sits in the bone, read our guide on how long dental implants last, and for longer-term problems see do dental implants fail over time?
Sources
- US Food and Drug Administration, Dental Implants: What You Should Know
- PubMed Central,Unwanted effects due to interactions between dental materials and magnetic resonance imaging: a review of the literature
This article is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your own dentist.
