I wonder if they'll alow them into an MRI scanner?, like that bloke who got killed with his bloody great necklace the other week?..
Yes, **you can usually wear dental braces during an MRI scan**, but there are some important considerations:
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### 🧲 **1. Metal Interference with Image Quality**
* **Braces are typically made of stainless steel**, which is *not* attracted to magnets like iron, but can still **distort MRI images**, especially if the scan is of the **head, neck, brain, or upper spine**.
* This distortion is called **artifacting**, and it can make it difficult to get a clear image.
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### ⚠️ **2. Safety**
* **Braces are generally safe** in an MRI scanner.
* They won't be ripped off or cause burns, but if they contain **ferromagnetic metals**, they might **vibrate slightly or heat up**, though this is rare with modern orthodontic materials.
* Most contemporary dental braces are **MRI-compatible**.
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### 🧑⚕️ **3. What You Should Do**
Before your MRI:
* **Tell your radiologist or technician** that you have braces.
* Let them know **exactly what kind** (metal, ceramic, Invisalign, etc.).
* They’ll decide whether the scan will be affected or whether it needs to be **rescheduled**, **adjusted**, or done using another imaging method (like a CT scan).
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### 🧠 Special Note for Brain/Head MRI:
If you're getting a brain or facial scan, **braces may obscure parts of the image**, so your doctor might:
* Recommend **removing the braces temporarily** (rare but possible), or
* Choose another imaging option depending on the clinical need.
