Can one have an MRI with a dental retainer wire?

Undergoing a brain MRI with a retainer wire often raises the same concerns: risk of heating, debonding, or blurred images. In reality, a bonded wire does not move, does not heat up significantly, and its impact on imaging remains limited to the mouth. The only exception: steel wires, which can create shadowing extending to the base of the skull, sometimes making the examination unusable. Titanium wires are better tolerated, and those made of PEEK, like the eZtain wire, are completely invisible on MRI. No removal, no diagnostic interference, no interruption of retention. If you are wondering which retainer wire to choose, start with our Complete Guide to Retainer Wires.

How Does Brain MRI Work?

Brain MRI works thanks to a very powerful magnetic field, associated with radio waves. This magnetic field aligns the water particles present in the body (protons), then the waves stimulate them. When they return to their normal position, they emit a signal that the machine captures to create a cross-sectional image of the brain.

• Metals attracted by a magnet (known as ferromagnetic) can react to the MRI’s magnetic field. However, in the case of a steel retainer wire bonded to the teeth, tests show that the force exerted by the MRI is too weak to move it, or worse, to debond it.
  
• Tissue heating. MRI can cause metallic wires to heat up very slightly, but this is not a safety concern. However, even slight heating or the mere presence of metal can create blurred areas on the image, which is called an artifact.
  
• Imaging artifacts. Metal locally disrupts the MRI’s magnetic field, which can create blurred or black areas on the image, known as artifacts. These pose no health risk but prevent proper interpretation of the MRI, necessitating the removal of steel retainer wires. In comparison, a PEEK wire generates no detectable artifact: the image remains clear, complete, and perfectly usable for the radiologist.
  

These three phenomena — attractive force, heating, and visual artifacts — explain why the removal of a retainer wire may often be required, especially if the MRI targets an area close to the mouth, such as the sinuses, jaws, or base of the skull. A steel wire, by generating troublesome shadowing, prevents accurate image interpretation. Choosing a biocompatible and non-metallic wire, such as the PEEK used by eZtain, allows one to completely avoid these situations: no removal, no artifact, and a perfectly usable image, regardless of the protocol.

Materials & Compatibility (Steel, Titanium/Ni-Ti, PEEK)

The decision to remove a wire before MRI depends primarily on the material:

In summary:

• a metallic steel wire can sometimes alter very sensitive sequences, but remains safe;
  
• a titanium or Ni-Ti wire almost never requires removal;
  
• a PEEK wire, like the one offered by eZtain, is completely invisible on MRI and eliminates the logistical constraint of removal and re-bonding.

Clinical Protocols: How Radiologists and Orthodontists Decide

Current recommendations are based on three pillars: the ASTM F2503 labeling standard (MR Safe / MR Conditional), clinical data on heat and debonding, and the actual extent of artifacts.

1. Safety Reference. The international ASTM F2503 standard requires that any device intended for the MRI environment bear an “MR Safe”, “MR Conditional”, or “MR Unsafe” label accompanied by standardized icons. A PEEK wire falls into the MR Safe category, while a steel wire is typically MR Conditional. A PEEK wire falls into the MR Safe category, while a steel wire is typically MR Conditional.
   
2. Thermo-mechanical data. Dobai’s 2022 systematic review concludes that neither heating (< 2 °C) nor debonding forces are dangerous for patients; the only issue remains the image itself.
   
3. Target lesion position. A study conducted on patients shows that a steel wire can generally remain in place for a brain MRI. It would only be removed if the examination directly targets areas close to the mouth, such as the sinuses or throat.
   

In practice:

• The radiologist checks the ASTM mention or the nature of the material.
  
• If it is a steel wire and the examination concerns the sinuses or the base of the skull, they may recommend its removal (removal then re-bonding).
  
• For a titanium, Ni-Ti, or PEEK wire, removal is usually not indicated; a simple declaration on the patient’s chart is sufficient.
  
• Orthodontist and radiologist must document the decision in the patient file to meet medico-legal and YMYL requirements (transparency, traceability).
  

This radiologist-orthodontist collaboration ensures reliable radiodiagnosis and avoids unnecessary removals, in accordance with the evidence-based approach recommended by the 2024 dental community consensus.

Why Immediately Re-bond the Retainer Wire After the Examination?

Retainer is not a “bonus” but the guarantee of long-term stability: 70 to 90% of patients show measurable displacement of mandibular incisors after retention cessation, even several years after treatment completion. A retainer wire is mandatory immediately after the end of your treatment, but remains highly recommended in the medium term.

A 2023 study also shows that one-third of bonded wires eventually debond or break after a few years; with each breakage, the risk of relapse jumps, especially in adults where bone density is still evolving.

In practice:

• Without a wire for a few days, the dental arch begins to tighten under the effect of periodontal fibers, making a costly retreatment probable.
  
• Re-bonding the wire the same day (or the next day) eliminates this window of relaxation.
  
• Patients wearing a PEEK or non-ferromagnetic alloy wire entirely avoid the removal-re-bonding phase; they thus maintain their alignment without interruption, reducing the risk of relapse and gingival sensitivity.
  

Informing the radiologist of the retainer’s presence, choosing the appropriate material, and quickly re-bonding the wire if necessary thus constitute the triple assurance of an optimal MRI diagnosis and lasting orthodontic stability.

Is it possible to have an MRI with a dental retainer wire?

Yes. Studies measure attractive forces too weak to debond the wire, heating below 2 °C, and artifacts limited to the mouth; therefore, for a standard brain MRI, the wire can remain in place without compromising the diagnosis.

Can I Wear Plastic Retainers for MRI?

Yes. PEEK (polyether-ether-ketone) aligners or retainer wires contain no metal: they are not attracted by the magnet, do not heat tissues, and remain invisible on images. Their removal is not necessary; simply inform the radiologist.

Can a Dental Filling Interfere with an MRI?

Modern amalgams and composites contain very few ferromagnetic metals; they do not move or heat up. The artifact they cause remains confined to the affected tooth and does not affect brain imaging.

Can One Have an MRI with a Metal Retainer?

Yes, a small bonded metallic wire can remain in place for a brain MRI. However, it can create a slight artifact. With a PEEK wire, no removal is necessary, and the image remains perfectly clear.

FAQ

Conclusion: A Smooth Brain MRI, Preserved Retention

Studies are clear: a bonded retainer wire does not prevent a reliable brain MRI, but steel can sometimes create a troublesome artifact, especially if the examination targets the lower areas of the skull. Titanium is better tolerated. PEEK, like that used by eZtain, is completely invisible on MRI: no removal, no interference, no compromise. Simply inform the medical team and, if removal is necessary, ensure the wire is re-bonded without delay: an interrupted retention, even temporarily, can be enough to cause your teeth to shift. With a 0% breakage rate over 5 years, eZtain also prevents costs related to replacing broken or debonded retainers.