Can MRI be Done with Dental Crowns?

Magnetic‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ resonance imaging does not use X-rays but a powerful magnet and, therefore, the main question is whether your dental crown contains ferromagnetic metals such as iron, nickel, cobalt or some stainless steels.

Generally, most metal-free crowns are made of non-magnetic alloys and thus are safe in MRI scanners and usually remain stable.

The biggest worry with an old or metal-ceramic crown is not usually that it will get detached from the magnetic field, but that the metal can vibrate, heat up slightly or cause discomfort, especially when the head and neck are scanned.

Metal around the teeth can also produce “artefacts” in the images, which appear as lines or dark areas and can partially cover the sinuses or jaw joints, for example.

Safety tips before your scan

Always notify the MRI staff and dentist if you have dental crowns, bridges, implants, or braces, and ask about the materials. In the case of a mouth full of old metal crowns and the need for extremely detailed head and neck images, the radiologist may decide to change the scanning parameters, select another scanning area, or take another imaging test.

The MRI examination is performed in a normal and safe way for most patients who have porcelain, zirconia, or composite crowns of the teeth. Nevertheless, maintaining an open line of communication with your dentist and the radiology team will help you get the best images possible and minimize the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌risk.