Can I have metal braces if I need MRIs?

Yes, you can have metal braces and still get MRIs, but there are a few important things to know:

🧲 What Happens with Metal Braces and MRI Scans?

• Most standard MRIs are safe with orthodontic braces.
• However, metal braces can interfere with the images, particularly of the head, neck, or facial area, due to distortion from the metal.
• This doesn’t mean the MRI is unsafe—but it may make the images less clear or harder to interpret.

🩻 What Should You Do?

• Tell your orthodontist and referring doctor if you need an MRI.
• If the MRI is of the spine, limbs, or other body parts, braces usually don’t cause a problem.
• If high-quality images of the head or jaw are essential, your orthodontist may recommend delaying treatment or removing braces temporarily for accurate imaging.

✅ Alternatives to Consider

If MRIs are frequent for medical reasons, you might discuss ceramic braces or clear aligners (like Angel Aligners), which are less likely to cause image interference.

Reference:

Dobai, A., Dembrovszky, F., Vízkelety, T. et al. MRI compatibility of orthodontic brackets and wires: systematic review article. BMC Oral Health 22, 298 (2022).