MRI, Diagnostic Studies & the Impact of Orthodontic Care

Braces and orthodontic treatments provide for a significant improvement in oral health and the appearance of a smile. With proper tooth movement and position, many adults and children seek the use of orthodontic services in an effort to improve dental health and physical appearance.

If you are considering the placement of braces, it is important to know what to expect in terms of orthodontic care and how your braces may adversely affect, or complicate, specific types of treatments or services. Before entering into orthodontic treatment, these types of issues should be addressed with the orthodontist.

One are of concern when using orthodontic appliances, such as braces, involves the complications associated with diagnostic studies. If, for some reason, you require the use of an MRI scan, the presence of metallic components may complicate the procedure and result in irregular results. For orthodontic patients with pre-existing health complications that require regular diagnostic studies, such as an MRI, the decision to proceed with orthodontic treatment may be deferred.

An MRI provides for a comprehensive view of the brain, including soft tissues. If you require MRI scan while you are in orthodontic treatment, there are some modifications your technician may need to consider to ensure your MRI results are as accurate and clear as possible. Because MRI studies are quite expensive, these measures must be considered before the first study is done.

The type of product used in your orthodontic care may have an impact on your diagnostic studies. If you require regular diagnostic studies, such as regular MRI, your orthodontist may want to try alternative appliances including the use of ceramic braces or bonded metal tubes as these will not reduce diagnostic quality results. In contrast, if your orthodontic treatment utilizes stainless steel or other metals, you can expect your studies will be inconclusive.

When possible, discuss the use of removable dental appliances as part of your orthodontic treatment. With removable appliances, when diagnostic studies are required, you can reduce the adverse outcomes of your studies by removing the orthodontic appliance first.

With the cost of orthodontic services continuing to increase, many adults make the decision to pursue orthodontic services without considering the adverse issues that may arise during treatment. If you suffer from a pre-existing health complication, it is important to speak with the orthodontist about treatment and issues involving diagnostic studies before the final decisions are made about the type of materials used in your treatment.