In most cases, you can have an MRI with dental implants. Modern dental implants are usually made from titanium or zirconia, and these materials are generally safe in MRI settings.
The more common concern is image quality, not safety. Metal in the mouth can sometimes create image artifacts, which means distortion or shadowing on the scan, especially during imaging of the head, face, jaw, or neck.
At Carolina Complete Dentistry in Charlotte, our restorative implant care team provides restorative implant care and implant evaluations for patients who need dental review before imaging.
Most dental implants are made from titanium. Titanium is biocompatible and not strongly magnetic in the way iron-based metals can be.
Some implants and restorations also include zirconia, porcelain, gold alloys, or other dental materials. These usually do not create a safety problem in MRI settings, although some metal components may still affect image quality depending on where the scan is being taken.
Crowns and bridges attached to implants may use different alloys. If you have questions about a specific restoration, a quick review of your dental records or a visit to our crowns & bridges team can help clarify the materials used.
Many patients with implants complete MRI scans without any issue. The radiology team still needs accurate information because safety decisions depend on the exact materials and the body area being imaged.
The most common issue is image artifacts near the implant area. Artifact can blur part of the scan or hide nearby structures.
This matters most when the MRI is focused on the brain, sinuses, jaw joints, oral tissues, or upper neck. If the MRI is of the knee, lower back, hip, or another body area far from the mouth, dental implants usually do not meaningfully affect the images.
Older dental work can be less straightforward. While the implant post itself may be MRI compatible, attached parts such as abutments, screws, bars, magnets, or removable overdenture components may use different metals.
That does not automatically mean the MRI is unsafe. It means the radiology team may need more detail before the scan starts.
Patients often group all dental metal together, but that can be misleading. A fixed implant in the jaw is different from braces, a removable partial denture, or a magnetic denture attachment.
Braces and some permanent retainers are more likely to distort MRI images of the head and face. They may still be safe, but they can reduce image quality enough to matter.
A crown or bridge attached to an implant is often fine during MRI. The imaging team may still want to know what type of alloy was used in the restoration, especially if the scan is close to the mouth.
If you need material information for a restoration, our crowns & bridges services can help document that.
Some overdentures or oral prostheses use magnetic components or mixed-metal parts. Removable appliances usually need special review, and in some cases they may need to be taken out before the scan if the radiology team advises it.
If you wear a removable implant denture or have magnetic attachments, a visit to our dentures & overdentures team can clarify removal instructions and component materials.
This is why it helps to be specific. Saying “I have dental implants” is useful, but saying whether you also have a removable implant denture, snap-in denture, bar attachment, or older metal dental work is even better.
Always mention dental implants on the MRI screening form. If possible, also mention when they were placed, which teeth are involved, and whether they support a crown, bridge, or denture.
More detail is especially important if:
If the imaging center has concerns, the next step is usually simple. The team may ask for an implant card, treatment record, or a note from the dentist or specialist who placed the implant.
MRI centers routinely ask about implants, surgeries, and metal devices. This is normal and does not mean there is a problem.
For dental implants, the team may ask what kind of implant you have, when it was placed, and whether it is fixed or removable. If the exact brand or material is known, that can help, but many patients do not have that information on hand.
The best approach is simple: share what you know, avoid guessing, and let the radiology team decide whether more documentation is needed. If there is any uncertainty, the imaging center may contact your dentist.
That is common, especially for scans near the jaws or when the dental work includes attachments beyond the implant itself.
For standard modern dental implants, significant movement during MRI is not expected. These implants are placed in bone and are usually made from materials that are not strongly affected by the magnetic field.
Patients also worry about heating. While MRI can interact with metal, clinically significant radiofrequency heating of a routine dental implant is generally not the issue many people fear.
A dental implant also should not suddenly loosen or fail just because an MRI was performed. If an implant already feels mobile, painful, or infected, that is a separate dental problem and should be evaluated whether or not imaging is planned.
The key point is that most concerns involve scan quality, not implant damage. The radiologist and MRI technologist are trained to identify the uncommon exceptions.
If the MRI is focused on the mouth, jaw joint, salivary glands, sinuses, or nearby soft tissues, dental implants may matter more. The implant itself may still be safe, but artifact can hide details the radiologist needs to see.
That does not always make the scan useless. In some cases, the radiology team can adjust the scan technique, or the ordering clinician may choose a different imaging study based on the clinical question.
For example, some jaw and tooth-related problems are better assessed with dental X-rays or cone beam CT, while soft tissue questions may still favor MRI. The right test depends on what the clinician is trying to confirm or rule out.
If your symptoms include facial swelling, numbness, unexplained bleeding, a growing lump, trouble swallowing, or severe jaw pain, do not assume the implant is the cause. Those symptoms need proper evaluation, especially if they are persistent or getting worse.
Before the MRI, tell the scheduler and the technologist that you have dental implants. If you have an implant card, a treatment summary, or the name of the dentist who placed them, keep that information available.
If you wear a removable implant denture or another oral appliance, ask in advance whether it should be removed before the scan. Do not assume, because instructions may depend on the appliance design and the body area being imaged.
If your dental work is recent and the area feels sore, that does not automatically mean MRI is unsafe. It simply gives the care team more context.
When details are unclear, a quick call between the imaging center and your dental office often solves the issue. That is much better than arriving for the scan and trying to reconstruct your dental history from memory.
If the question is not just safety but also discomfort around the implant, the MRI may not be the main issue. Pain with biting, gum swelling, bad taste, pus, bleeding, or a loose implant can suggest infection, inflammation, or mechanical failure.
One possible cause is peri-implantitis, which is inflammation and bone loss around an implant. You do not need to diagnose that at home, but persistent symptoms do deserve a dental exam.
Seek prompt dental or medical care if you have fever, spreading facial swelling, trouble swallowing, or trouble breathing. Those are urgent red flags and should not wait for a routine office visit.
For less urgent concerns, a local dentist, periodontist, or oral surgeon can usually confirm whether the implant is stable and whether any treatment is needed before or after the MRI.
Most patients with modern dental implants can move forward with MRI after routine screening. If there is any doubt about the type of implant or attached dental hardware, a quick check with your dentist and the imaging center is the safest and simplest next step.
At Carolina Complete Dentistry in Charlotte, our restorative implant care team can confirm implant stability, review restoration materials, and provide the documentation imaging centers may need. Call (704) 547-8555 to schedule a focused exam.
Usually, yes. Dental implants are often MRI compatible, but they may create artifacts that affect image quality near the mouth or face.
Not always, but it can help. If the imaging center wants confirmation of the implant material or manufacturer, that card or a dental record may prevent delays.
Titanium is not strongly magnetic in the way that causes the main MRI safety concerns. That is one reason titanium implants are generally considered safe in MRI settings.
In most cases, no. The more common issue is whether metal in the crown or abutment causes image distortion, especially for scans of the head and neck.
Do not cancel on your own. Contact the imaging center, explain what you know, and let the team decide whether they need records from your dentist.