When your healthcare provider orders an MRI, they give you a very strict rule: absolutely no metal allowed in the machine. You take off your watch, your earrings and your belt. But what happens if the metal is permanently glued to your teeth? For millions of people wearing traditional braces, the thought of walking into a giant magnet is terrifying. The quick answer is yes, you can usually get an MRI with braces.

Modern braces are almost always made from safe, nonmagnetic metals, so they will not be ripped out of your mouth. However, just because they are safe does not mean they will not cause problems. According to PubMed Central, wearing braces can ruin MRI photos, especially if they are focused on your head or neck. Understanding how the machine interacts with your orthodontics will help you prepare for a smooth appointment.

The science behind the scan

To understand why braces cause worry, you have to understand how the machine works. MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The giant tube you slide into is actually a massive electromagnet. It is thousands of times stronger than the magnets on your refrigerator. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the machine uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to temporarily align the protons in the water molecules in your body.

When the machine turns off the radio waves, the protons relax and release a signal. A computer catches that signal and paints a highly detailed, 3D picture of your brain, bones and internal organs. Because the magnet is so powerful, any “ferromagnetic” metal (metal containing iron) acts dangerously, like a piece of metal flying toward a fridge magnet.

Why safety is a concern

For decades, the biggest fear about mixing braces and MRIs was physical safety. People worried that the giant magnet would rip the metal brackets off their teeth, causing severe pain and injury.

Fortunately, orthodontics has advanced significantly. Today, most traditional metal braces are made of high-quality stainless steel, titanium, or ceramic alloys. These specific metals are non-ferromagnetic. If you are getting an MRI of your knee or lower back, your braces won’t matter at all. The distance is great enough that the “ripples” don’t reach the scanned area.

However, if you need an MRI of the brain, face, or neck, those metal brackets can be a major roadblock. A radiologist might see a “blob” where your pituitary gland or optic nerve should be. In some cases, orthodontists may need to temporarily remove the archwires (the long wire connecting the brackets) because the archwires cause more distortion than the individual brackets.

Risks and side effects

Even though your braces are safe and will not fly across the room, the metal inside your mouth still interacts with the magnetic field, which can cause major problems for the radiologist. The primary risk of having braces during an MRI is a phenomenon called “susceptibility artifact.” When the magnetic field interacts with the metal brackets, the brackets bend and distort the field.

In very rare cases, the radio waves used during MRI can cause small metal wires (such as the archwire connecting your brackets) to heat up slightly. A PubMed Central publication explains that, while it rarely causes a burn, you might feel a strange, warm sensation in your mouth during a long scan.

Should you avoid an MRI with braces?

According to Dr. Justus Rabach, MD, “If you have braces and you need an MRI of your head, brain or cervical spine (neck), you might be advised to avoid the scan entirely until the braces are removed. If the scan is a life-or-death emergency (like a severe car crash or a suspected stroke), the radiology technologist will do the MRI anyway and try to work around the blurry spots.”

If the scan is for a chronic, non-emergency issue, the radiologist might refuse to do it. They know the pictures will be of no value, and they will tell you to come back after your orthodontist takes the metal off your teeth.

Safer alternatives

If you need a head MRI and currently wear braces, you have a few options to ensure the doctors get the information they need.

If an MRI cannot be performed due to metal distortion, your healthcare provider can order a CT (Computed Tomography) scan instead. A CT scan uses X-rays rather than magnets. While they expose you to a small amount of radiation, metal braces will not distort the image as much, allowing the radiologist to see your brain or neck clearly.

If you absolutely must have an MRI, call your orthodontist. Often, the main source of the magnetic distortion is the long metal archwire, not the small brackets glued to your teeth. Your orthodontist can temporarily remove only the wire before your MRI appointment, then put it back on later that same afternoon.

If you do not have permanently glued braces but use a removable retainer, a nightguard or clear aligners (like Invisalign), you must remove them completely from your mouth before sliding into the MRI machine. Even if they are mostly plastic, they often contain tiny metal hinge wires that will distort the picture. Leave them safely in their case in the locker room!

What patients cannot get an MRI?

While braces are generally safe, some people can never go inside an MRI machine because they have dangerous, old metal inside their bodies. The American Heart Association strongly warns that patients with older, unapproved cardiac pacemakers, certain types of metal clips used to treat brain aneurysms, or cochlear implants in their ears cannot undergo an MRI.

The powerful magnet can physically rip these old devices out of place or instantly shut down the pacemaker’s battery, which is a fatal emergency. Patients with metal shrapnel or shavings stuck in their eyes from welding are also banned, as the magnet will pull the metal straight through the delicate eyeball.

How do you get through an MRI without panicking?

Many people without any metal at all still struggle with MRIs because the tube is very tight and the machine is incredibly loud, making them feel severely claustrophobic. According to the Cleveland Clinic, claustrophobia is the fear of confined spaces when it interferes with your ability to function in daily activities.

To avoid panicking, you should keep your eyes tightly closed the entire time so you do not see how close the ceiling is to your face. The hospital will usually give you a pair of earplugs or special headphones that play music to block out the loud, banging noises. If you know you are highly claustrophobic, tell your radiologist days before the appointment; they can prescribe a mild, safe anxiety pill (like Valium) for you to take an hour before the scan to keep your brain completely calm and relaxed.

“Patients with some modern versions of cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators can safely undergo an MRI, but most people have older devices, which aren’t FDA-approved for use in an MRI scanner,” says Dr. Jeffrey Weinreb, MD, chief of the MRI service at Yale Medicine.

Bottom line

You can safely get an MRI with modern metal braces because they are made of non-ferromagnetic materials (such as titanium or stainless steel) that the machine’s strong magnetic field will not pull. However, the metal can severely distort the magnetic field and ruin the pictures if you need a scan of your head, neck or brain. If a clear head image is required, your doctor may suggest an alternative CT scan or ask your orthodontist to temporarily remove your archwires before the procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you have an MRI if you have fillings in your teeth?

Yes, standard dental fillings (even older silver amalgam ones) are completely safe in an MRI machine and will not be pulled out, though they might cause a tiny amount of blurriness if the doctor is taking pictures of your jaw.

How to pass the time during an MRI?

Since you must stay perfectly still, the best way to pass the time is to keep your eyes closed, listen to the technician’s music and practice deep, slow breathing exercises to stay relaxed.

Citations

Poorsattar-Bejeh Mir A, Rahmati-Kamel M. Should the orthodontic brackets always be removed before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)? Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research. 2016;6(2):142-152. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobcr.2015.08.007

National Institute of Biomedical imaging and Bioengineering. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Published 2025. https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri

Mayo Clinic. MRI. Mayo Clinic. Published 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mri/about/pac-20384768

Tang M, Yamamoto T. Progress in Understanding Radiofrequency Heating and Burn Injuries for Safer MR Imaging. Magnetic Resonance in Medical Sciences. 2022;22(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.2463/mrms.rev.2021-0047

American Heart Association. Devices that May Interfere with ICDs and Pacemakers. www.heart.org. Published 2016. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/prevention–treatment-of-arrhythmia/devices-that-may-interfere-with-icds-and-pacemakers

Cleveland Clinic. Claustrophobia: What Is It, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. Published September 15, 2021. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21746-claustrophobia