Is It Necessary to Remove Dental Retainers for MRI Scans?

What's an MRI?

“

What's a Dental Retainer? A retainer is a special tool that helps keep your teeth straight after braces.

The Big Question

[{"selector":"#anim-2cf625ee-46d1-446e-beb4-e221c9b68545","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":50,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc500e6f-a754-455b-b298-e99dfcf28c21","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(1921.05277%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":50,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Do you need to take out your retainer before an MRI?

Why Worry?

[{"selector":"#anim-c51fe60f-1932-47d6-b063-d549f873f55d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-808454dc-deb6-490a-b3bb-41ce15300b6e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(703.57160%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c81c0bf-c6dc-4210-bfa3-5762b848a4dc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.05)","scale(0.995)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] MRI machines use big magnets. We need to make sure nothing metal is around.

Metal in Retainers?

[{"selector":"#anim-4143ddb7-3479-4cc5-817a-5baf562b91d6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a288c4a3-7a05-43a9-917d-7edf3d7c8969","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(535.93754%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Some retainers have metal parts. But, not all do!

Safe or Not?

[{"selector":"#anim-24a07dab-52f4-4480-84a2-5d295f8a8428","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e26813ee-8936-4ad9-8140-d68879eaf14c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(551.56251%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] If your retainer has metal, it might need to come out. It can mess with the MRI pictures.

All Plastic Retainers

[{"selector":"#anim-98bc0f0a-67fc-49e3-b424-80bf653ef333","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bd19ca9-9468-4f2a-a95c-ff2aeccdfaea","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(1586.95768%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Got an all-plastic retainer? Good news! These usually can stay in during an MRI.

Always Check First

[{"selector":"#anim-403a8806-4f13-4e45-b03c-7cca994dad2f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-176bdd6f-0387-4d54-a6a9-df8e0ded74b7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(1586.95768%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Always ask your doctor or MRI technician. They'll tell you if you should remove it.

Before your MRI, tell the doctor about your retainer. Safety first! Swipe Up