Is it safe to undergo a head MRI while wearing dental braces?

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Last updated: September 22, 2026 • View editorial policy

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Can You Have a Head MRI with Dental Braces?

Yes, you can safely undergo a head MRI while wearing dental braces in most cases, and removal is typically unnecessary for diagnostic quality imaging. Recent evidence demonstrates that standard orthodontic appliances, including stainless steel brackets with nickel-titanium archwires and molar bands, allow interpretable brain MRI across most sequences 1, 2.

Safety Considerations

Physical Safety

Dental braces are generally MRI-safe when properly secured in the oral cavity. The key concern is displacement force from the magnetic field:

  • Fixed appliances (brackets bonded to teeth, molar bands cemented in place) show minimal displacement forces (<0.03 N at 25 cm outside the gantry entrance) because they are securely attached 3
  • Removable appliances that are not firmly fixed pose greater risk and should be removed before scanning 3
  • The magnetic field creates maximum displacement force between 0-5 cm inside the gantry entrance, but properly bonded orthodontic appliances remain secure 3

Thermal Safety

MRI exposure does not cause clinically significant heating of orthodontic brackets:

  • Studies show no significant temperature changes in either stainless steel or titanium brackets after 20 minutes of 1.5T MRI exposure 4
  • Bond integrity remains intact with no increased microleakage at the enamel-adhesive or bracket-adhesive interfaces 4

Image Quality and Diagnostic Impact

What Can Stay

The following orthodontic components produce acceptable diagnostic quality for brain MRI:

  • Stainless steel brackets with nickel-titanium archwires
  • Molar bands (stainless steel)
  • Standard braces configurations

These allow satisfactory visualization of cerebral structures with high diagnostic quality in both 1.5T and 3T scanners 1. MRI is actually less susceptible to metal artifact than CT, particularly in the oral cavity region 5.

What Should Be Removed

Trans-palatal archwires (stainless steel bars connecting molars across the palate) create significant artifacts and should be removed if:

  • Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) sequences are needed (artifacts reduce quality to 20/85) 1
  • Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences are required (quality reduced to 31/85) 1
  • Phase contrast angiography (PCA) is planned (quality reduced to 17/20) 1

Class II corrector springs are not recommended and should be removed 6.

Sequence-Specific Recommendations

If orthodontic devices are present, use:

  • HASTE sequences with 2D imaging - these provide best visualization 6
  • Avoid FSE sequences and 3D imaging techniques - these are more susceptible to artifact 6

Pre-Scan Protocol

Before proceeding with MRI, the imaging team should:

  1. Screen for appliance type and fixation: Verify all orthodontic components are securely bonded or cemented 7
  2. Identify removable components: Any dental prostheses, retainers, or loose appliances must be removed 7
  3. Assess imaging needs: Determine if SWI, DWI, or specialized sequences are required that might necessitate trans-palatal arch removal 1
  4. Check for other metallic items: Remove jewelry, clothing with metal fasteners 7

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Don't automatically require complete appliance removal - this increases injury risk during removal, delays imaging, and is usually unnecessary 1, 2
  • Don't confuse fixed with removable appliances - only removable devices pose displacement risks 3
  • Don't assume all metal creates equal artifacts - properly bonded brackets and bands rarely compromise diagnostic quality for standard brain imaging 1, 4
  • Don't overlook loose components - wire spring coils and molar bands that are not firmly attached should be removed 6

Special Circumstances

For velopharyngeal MRI specifically, hyrax palatal expanders and standard braces with stainless steel brackets are acceptable, though careful sequence selection remains important 6.

The 2025 EANM/EANO/RANO/SNMMI guideline emphasizes that patients should be prescreened using standardized checklists for MRI contraindications, and metallic items must be categorized as "MRI unsafe," "MRI conditional," or "MRI safe" 7. Standard fixed orthodontic appliances fall into the "MRI safe" or "MRI conditional" categories when properly secured.

In emergency situations requiring rapid brain imaging, the time saved by not removing orthodontic appliances can be clinically significant, and diagnostic quality remains sufficient for most clinical decisions 1, 2.

References

6
Research

Can Velopharyngeal MRI be Used in Individuals with Orthodontic Devices?

The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal : official publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, 2024

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.