Magnetic Resonance Imaging, also known as an MRI, is a standard scan doctors use to look inside your body. If you have dental implants, it is natural to wonder if the powerful magnets in the machine will pull on your dental work or ruin the images.
The good news is that dental implants are safe for nearly everyone getting an MRI. Still, it is important to understand the materials used in your implants and what details you should share with your medical team before the scan.
This guide covers how implants behave in an MRI machine, when you should take extra care, and how to get ready for your appointment.
Most dental implants are made from titanium or a titanium alloy. Titanium is not magnetic, which means it does not react to the magnetic fields used in an MRI.
Because of this, modern implants are considered safe. They won't move or be damaged during the scan, and they don't pose a risk to your health. Most people with implants get MRI scans all the time without any trouble.
Even so, you should always tell the person doing the scan about any dental work you have. This helps them make sure the equipment is set up correctly and that the pictures come out clear.
While implants are safe, they can sometimes cause small shadows or blurry spots in the final images. This is mostly a factor if the scan is being done on your jaw, head, or neck.
In the medical world, this is called an image artefact. It isn't dangerous, but it can make it a bit harder for a doctor to read the results in that specific area.
How much it affects the picture depends on:
For scans of your back, legs, or other parts of the body away from your mouth, dental implants usually don't cause any interference at all.
Most dental implants used in London clinics today are made of titanium. Dentists choose titanium because:
Older dental work or certain types of bridges might use different metals. If you aren't sure what your implant is made of, your dentist can check your records for you.
Before your MRI, the staff will ask if you have any metal in your body. Make sure to mention:
Usually, no special steps are needed, but being honest helps the team get the most accurate results.
For the vast majority of people, an MRI with dental implants is routine and safe. Serious problems are very rare.
In some very specific cases, a person might feel:
If you just had your implant surgery, your dentist might suggest waiting until the area has fully healed before having an MRI, just to be safe.
Yes, even if you have a full set of implants, you can still have an MRI. These systems use the same titanium materials as single implants and behave the same way.
The only real issue is image clarity. If the doctors are looking at your jaw or brain, having many implants might make the picture a bit less sharp. Radiology teams are used to this and can often use different settings to get a better look.
At ODL Dental Clinic, we plan every implant treatment with your long-term health in mind. We use modern materials that are designed to be safe.
When you come in for a consultation, our team looks at:
If you are thinking about getting dental implants in London and have questions about how they affect medical tests, we can give you clear answers based on your situation. Get in touch with ODL Dental Clinic today to book a chat.
