Can You Have an MRI with Dental Implants?

You have a scheduled MRI scan. You also have dental implants. Suddenly, a wave of worry hits you. Will the powerful magnet rip the implants out of your jaw? Will the scan be ruined? Will you feel pain?

Let me put your mind at ease right away.

Yes, in the vast majority of cases, you can safely have an MRI with dental implants.

However, like most things in medicine, the full answer is a little more detailed. The safety of your scan depends on a few key factors, including the material of your implants, how long ago they were placed, and what part of your body needs imaging.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know. We will explore the science, the risks (which are very low), and the exact questions you should ask your doctor and radiologist. By the end, you will feel confident and prepared for your MRI.

How MRI Machines Work: A Simple Explanation

To understand why dental implants can be a concern, you first need a basic idea of how an MRI works. Don’t worry—no physics degree is required.

An MRI machine is essentially a very powerful, very large magnet. It creates a strong magnetic field around your body. Then, it sends pulses of radio waves. These pulses temporarily excite the hydrogen atoms in your body’s water molecules.

When the radio waves turn off, the atoms release a tiny signal. The machine reads these signals and turns them into a highly detailed, three-dimensional image of your soft tissues. Unlike an X-ray or CT scan, an MRI uses no ionizing radiation.

The critical point: Because the machine uses a powerful magnet, any metal containing ferromagnetic properties (metals that are attracted to magnets) can become a problem. The magnet can try to move that metal, causing it to heat up or shift position.

Why Dental Implants Raise a Question

Now you see the issue. A metal object placed inside your jawbone, right next to your brain and vital structures, entering a giant magnet? It sounds like a recipe for disaster.

But here is the reality that most people don’t know: Most modern dental implants are not ferromagnetic.

Dentists and oral surgeons stopped using ferromagnetic metals decades ago for this very reason. Today, the vast majority of dental implants are made from materials that are either non-magnetic or only weakly magnetic.

The Materials Matter: Titanium vs. Zirconia

Let’s look at the two main types of dental implant materials. This is the most important section for your peace of mind.

Titanium Implants (The Most Common)

Titanium is the gold standard for dental implants. It is lightweight, incredibly strong, and integrates beautifully with your jawbone (a process called osseointegration).

But is it magnetic?

No. Titanium is not ferromagnetic. It is classified as a paramagnetic material. This means it has a very weak, barely detectable interaction with a magnetic field. However, it is not attracted to the magnet.

• Will it move? No. The magnetic force is not strong enough to pull a titanium implant out of your jaw.
• Will it heat up? Slightly, but not dangerously. Studies show that titanium implants may warm up by less than 1 degree Celsius during an MRI. You will not feel it.
• Will it cause pain? Extremely unlikely.

Zirconia Implants (The Metal-Free Alternative)

Zirconia is a white, ceramic-like material. It is becoming more popular for patients with metal sensitivities or those who want a completely metal-free mouth.

• Is it magnetic? No. Zirconia is not a metal. It is completely non-magnetic.
• Is it safe for MRI? Yes, completely. Zirconia implants are considered 100% MRI-safe. They cause no image distortion, no heating, and no movement.

A Quick Comparison Table

Material	Magnetic Property	MRI Safety	Image Quality Impact
Titanium	Paramagnetic (very weak)	Safe	Minor artifact (distortion) possible
Zirconia	Non-magnetic	Completely safe	No artifact
Stainless Steel (Old/Obsolute)	Ferromagnetic	Not safe	Severe artifact & risk of movement

Important Note for Readers: If you received your dental implants before the mid-1990s, there is a small chance they contain stainless steel or other ferromagnetic components. Always verify this with your dentist.

The Real Risk: Image Artifact, Not Implant Movement

Here is the honest truth. The biggest problem with having an MRI and dental implants is not your safety. It is the quality of the images.

When you place any metal (even titanium) in a magnetic field, it creates a small disturbance. Radiologists call this artifact. An artifact looks like a dark spot, a white spot, or a distorted area on the final images.

Think of it like throwing a small stone into a calm pond. The ripple effect around the stone is the artifact.

How Artifact Affects Your Scan

If you need an MRI of your brain, inner ear, or pituitary gland, your dental implants are very close to the target area. The artifact from your implants might blur or hide small details in the front part of your brain or the base of your skull.

If you need an MRI of your knee, spine, or foot, your dental implants are far away from the scanner’s area of interest. The artifact will have zero impact. The radiologist can easily see your knee without any interference from your mouth.

Real-World Example

• Scenario A: You need a brain MRI to investigate a possible pituitary tumor. You have four titanium implants in your upper jaw. The radiologist will see some artifact. They might still get a good image, or they might need to adjust the scanner’s settings.
• Scenario B: You need a lumbar spine MRI for chronic back pain. You have a full mouth of titanium implants. The artifact is confined to your face. Your spine images will be perfect.

What You Must Tell Your Medical Team

Communication is the key to a successful and safe MRI. Do not assume your doctor or the MRI technician knows you have dental implants. You must tell them.

Here is a script you can use:

“I have dental implants. They are made of titanium. My dentist placed them in [year]. I do not have any removable dental work.”

Three Critical Questions to Ask

1. To your referring doctor: “Will the artifact from my dental implants affect the quality of the MRI for my specific condition?”
2. To the MRI facility: “Do you have any special protocols or sequences to reduce artifact from metal in the mouth?”
3. To both: “Is there any alternative imaging test, like a CT scan or an ultrasound, that might be better for my situation?”

MRI Safety for Different Types of Dental Work

Not all “metal in your mouth” is the same. Let’s break down the different types of dental work.

Dental Crowns

Most modern dental crowns are made from porcelain fused to metal, zirconia, or gold alloys.

• Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM): Usually safe. The metal base is typically non-ferromagnetic.
• Gold crowns: Completely safe. Gold is not magnetic.
• Zirconia crowns: Completely safe.

Dental Bridges

A bridge is essentially two or more crowns joined together. The same safety rules apply. Titanium or zirconia bridges are fine. Old bridges from the 1980s might contain ferromagnetic metals.

Removable Dentures with Metal Clasps

This is a different situation. If your denture or partial denture has metal clasps and is removable, you will simply take it out before the MRI. The technician will ask you to remove any removable dental appliance, just like you remove your watch or glasses.

Orthodontic Braces and Retainers

• Braces: This is a common problem. Braces contain metal brackets and wires. They cause significant artifact. Most MRI facilities will refuse to scan your brain or head with braces in place. They may scan your leg or foot. You usually need to have braces removed before a head MRI.
• Permanent Retainers: A thin wire bonded to the back of your teeth. This causes artifact but is often acceptable. Always inform the technician.

Dental Fillings (Amalgam)

Old silver (amalgam) fillings contain metals like silver, tin, and copper. They are not ferromagnetic. However, they can cause minor artifact on very sensitive brain scans. They are not dangerous.

Step-by-Step: What Happens on the Day of Your MRI

Knowing what to expect removes fear. Here is a realistic timeline of your MRI appointment when you have dental implants.

1. Screening Form: You will fill out a detailed safety questionnaire. It will ask: “Do you have any implants, including dental implants, pacemakers, or joint replacements?” You will answer YES and write “dental implants – titanium.”
2. Verbal Interview: A technician will review your form. They will ask you to describe your implants. Be honest. Do not guess the material. If you do not know, say: “I don’t know the exact material. My dentist placed them in 2020.”
3. Removable Items: You will remove your glasses, hearing aids, partial dentures, and any jewelry.
4. The Scan: The technician will position you on the table. If you are having a brain scan, they may ask you to hold your head very still. They might place a small pad on your forehead.
5. During the Scan: You will hear loud knocking and buzzing sounds. This is normal. You will not feel anything from your dental implants. Zero. No pulling, no heat, no pain.
6. After the Scan: You are done. You get dressed and go home. Your implants are exactly as they were before.

Special Cases and Rare Risks

We need to discuss a few rare but real scenarios. This section keeps you fully informed.

Loose or Failing Implants

An MRI is safe for a healthy, fully osseointegrated implant. However, if your implant is already loose, infected, or failing, the vibration and noise of the MRI might cause minor discomfort. The magnet will not pull it out, but the physical movement of the scanner table and the loud sounds could aggravate an already unstable implant.

What to do: If you have pain, mobility, or signs of infection around an implant, see your dentist before your MRI. Get the implant evaluated.

Implants with Internal Magnets

Some very specific types of craniofacial implants or dental prosthetics use small internal magnets to hold a denture in place. These are rare today. If you have this type of system, you must tell your radiologist. These magnets can be affected by the MRI. They might demagnetize, heat up, or move.

How to know: Your oral surgeon would have specifically told you that you have “magnetic retention” implants. If you have standard screw-type implants, you do not have this.

The “Heating” Concern

Some old research suggested that metal implants could heat up dangerously during an MRI. For modern dental implants, this is not a real-world concern. The heating is measured in fractions of a degree. It is less than the natural temperature variation inside your own mouth throughout the day.

When an MRI Might NOT Be Possible

Let’s be absolutely honest. There are rare situations where a doctor might say “no” to an MRI with dental implants.

1. Unknown Implant Type: If you have no idea what material your implants are, and you cannot contact your dentist, and your old records are lost. A cautious radiologist might refuse to scan a delicate area like the brain. They will instead recommend a CT scan.
2. Massive Artifact in a Critical Area: If you need a very high-resolution scan of a tiny structure like the internal auditory canal (for hearing loss), and you have large titanium implants in your upper jaw, the artifact might simply make the scan useless. The radiologist will choose a different imaging method.
3. Old Ferromagnetic Implants: If you have confirmed stainless steel implants from the 1980s or earlier, an MRI of the head is contraindicated (not recommended). A scan of your foot would still be fine.

Comparison: MRI vs. CT Scan for Patients with Dental Implants

If your doctor is worried about artifact, they might suggest a CT scan. Here is how they compare.

Feature	MRI	CT Scan
Radiation	None	Yes (low to moderate dose)
Soft Tissue Detail	Excellent	Poor
Bone Detail	Good	Excellent
Effect of Dental Implants	Artifact (dark/white spots)	Beam-hardening artifact (streaks)
Safety with Titanium	Safe	Safe
Best For	Brain, spinal cord, nerves, discs	Bone anatomy, sinuses, fractures

The bottom line: If you need to see soft tissue (brain, tumor, nerve), MRI is superior despite the artifact. If you need to see bone (sinus, jaw joint), CT is often better.

Practical Advice: How to Prepare for Your MRI

Follow this checklist to ensure a smooth experience.

• Call your dentist’s office. Ask for the implant brand and material. Write it down. Example: “Nobel Biocare – Titanium.”
• Inform your referring doctor. Tell them you have implants. Ask if artifact will be a problem for your specific scan.
• Inform the MRI facility when you book. Do not wait until the day of the scan.
• Request a “Metal Artifact Reduction Sequence.” This is a special setting on modern MRI machines. Ask: “Can you use SEMAC or VAT sequences to reduce artifact from my implants?” This makes you look like an expert.
• Bring your implant information card if you received one from your dentist.

What the Radiologist Sees: A Peek Behind the Scenes

Let me show you what your radiologist experiences. This helps you understand why they ask certain questions.

When you lie down for a brain MRI with dental implants, the radiologist (who is in another room) sees your scan images appear on a computer screen.

• No implants: Clean, black-and-white images of your brain.
• Titanium implants: At the bottom of the image (near your mouth), they see a dark, rounded “hole” or a black “blooming” artifact. The rest of your brain is visible.
• Large or multiple implants: The dark area might be larger. It might obscure the very front of your frontal lobe or the floor of your pituitary fossa.

The radiologist then writes a report. They will note: “There is susceptibility artifact from dental hardware, but the examination is otherwise unremarkable.” This means: “The implants caused a problem, but I still saw enough to do my job.”

7 Common Myths About MRI and Dental Implants (Busted)

Let’s clear up the misinformation you might find online.

Myth 1: “The MRI will rip my implants out of my skull.”
Fact: No. Titanium is not magnetic. This will never happen.

Myth 2: “I need to have my implants removed before an MRI.”
Fact: Absolutely false. Removing a healthy, integrated implant is major surgery. No ethical doctor would require this for an MRI.

Myth 3: “Dental implants make MRI images completely useless.”
Fact: False. They cause localized artifact. Images of distant body parts are perfect. Even head images are often diagnostic.

Myth 4: “All metal is dangerous in an MRI.”
Fact: False. Only ferromagnetic metals (iron, nickel, cobalt) are dangerous. Titanium and zirconia are safe.

Myth 5: “My implants will get hot and burn my gums.”
Fact: False. Studies show a temperature rise of less than 1°C. You will not feel it.

Myth 6: “I don’t need to tell the technician if my implants are non-magnetic.”
Fact: False. Always tell them. They need to know to adjust for artifact.

Myth 7: “An MRI will demagnetize my implants.”
Fact: Implants are not magnets. They have no magnetism to lose.

Real Patient Stories (Anonymous)

These are composite scenarios based on real clinical experiences.

Sarah, age 52. Needed a brain MRI for chronic migraines. Had two titanium implants in her lower jaw. She was terrified. She called her dentist, confirmed the material, and told the MRI center. The technician used a special artifact reduction sequence. The images were clear enough to rule out a brain tumor. Sarah felt no sensation in her mouth during the 45-minute scan.

David, age 68. Needed a knee MRI before surgery. Had a full upper denture supported by four titanium implants (an “overdenture”). He removed the denture itself (the plastic part) but the four implant anchors stayed in his bone. The knee MRI was perfect. The technician didn’t even mention the implants because they were so far from the knee.

Maria, age 45. Needed an MRI of her pituitary gland (a tiny gland at the base of the brain). She had six titanium implants in her upper jaw. The radiologist was honest. He said: “The artifact from your implants will likely hide the floor of the pituitary fossa. A CT scan will give us better bone detail for this specific question.” Maria had a CT scan instead. Everyone was happy.

Additional Resource: Where to Learn More

For the most authoritative, evidence-based information on MRI safety and implants, refer to the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) .

You can also consult the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard ISO 10974, which specifically covers the safety of active implants in MRI environments.

Link to the official ACR guidance on metallic implants: (Add your internal link here or link to www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/ACR-Statements-and-Guidelines)

Conclusion (Three Lines)

Most people with modern titanium or zirconia dental implants can safely undergo an MRI without pain, movement, or serious risk. The main challenge is minor image distortion (artifact), which usually does not prevent a diagnosis, especially for scans of the body away from the head. Always inform your medical team about your implants beforehand, and confirm the material with your dentist for complete peace of mind.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I have a brain MRI with dental implants?
Yes, in most cases. However, the implants may cause some image distortion (artifact) at the base of the brain. Your radiologist can often adjust the scanner’s settings to minimize this.

2. Do I need to remove my fixed dental implants before an MRI?
No. Fixed dental implants are surgically placed in your jawbone. You cannot remove them, and you should not try. They are safe to stay in place.

3. What happens if I have an old metal filling and an MRI?
Old amalgam fillings are generally safe. They are not ferromagnetic. They might cause a very small, localized artifact, but this is rarely a clinical problem.

4. Can dental implants cause burns during an MRI?
No. This is a very old concern related to other types of metal implants. Modern dental implants made of titanium or zirconia do not heat up to dangerous levels during an MRI.

5. Will my MRI appointment be cancelled if I have dental implants?
Almost never. The technician will ask about them, but they will not cancel your appointment unless you need a very high-resolution scan of a tiny area right next to the implants and you have unknown or ferromagnetic implants.

6. How do I find out what material my dental implants are?
Call your dentist or oral surgeon’s office. They have your records, including the implant brand and model number. If the clinic is closed, look for any old receipts or paperwork from your implant surgery.

7. Can I have an MRI if I have a dental implant and a crown?
Yes. The crown material (porcelain, zirconia, gold) is also MRI-safe. The combined structure is not a problem.

8. Is an MRI or CT scan better if I have dental implants?
It depends on the question. For soft tissues (brain, nerves), MRI is better despite artifact. For bones (sinuses, jaw joint), CT is often better. Your doctor will decide.

9. What is an MRI artifact reduction sequence?
It is a special setting on modern MRI machines (e.g., SEMAC, VAT, MAVRIC) that reduces the dark spots and distortions caused by metal implants. Always ask if the facility has this.

10. Can I have an emergency MRI with dental implants?
Yes. In an emergency, the benefit of getting the scan far outweighs any minimal risk from the implants. The radiologist will proceed with the scan and note the presence of the implants in the report.