Most people know that silver fillings are made with toxic dental materials (mercury), but other orthodontic materials like braces and sealants can contain toxic materials that you do not want in your mouth. What is the safest dental filling material?

Metal braces are still the most common appliance used by orthodontists today. They are made of surgical grade stainless steel and consist of small brackets that are bonded to the surfaces of the teeth.

Fixed braces are made of metal (conventional) or non-metal materials (white or “tooth coloured”). Metal braces are sometimes called “train tracks”. Most orthodontists use metal braces to straighten teeth. These are the braces which are usually provided by the NHS.

Patients with braces may receive an MRI. However, if you have braces and need an MRI of your brain or facial area, the MR system may have difficulty “tuning” to your body. The MR tuning process is similar to tuning a radio to a specific frequency or radio station.

If you move, the MRI scan pictures may not be clear. Your primary care physician may order you a mild sedative if you are claustrophobic (afraid of closed spaces), have a hard time staying still, or have chronic pain. You will hear very loud banging noises during the series of scans.

The presence of metal can be a serious problem in MRI, because (1) Magnetic metals can experience a force in the scanner, (2) Long wires (such as in pacemakers) can result in induced currents and heating from the RF magnetic field and (3) Metals cause the static (B0) magnetic field to be inhomogeneous, causing severe …

Metal may interfere with the magnetic field used to create an MRI image and can cause a safety hazard. The magnetic field may damage electronic items. Do not have an MRI scan if you have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or pacemaker.

Risks of the Procedure However, due to the use of the strong magnet, MRI cannot be performed on patients with: Implanted pacemakers. Intracranial aneurysm clips. Cochlear implants.

Austenitic stainless steel is MRI compatible in general. Ferritic and martensitic types of stainless are magnetically active and are not MRI compatible.

Titanium Does Not Interfere With MRIs Titanium is the most common metal used for dental implants, and it is completely non-reactive to magnetism. Because it is not magnetic, it will not interfere with an MRI.

Steel contains iron, so a steel paperclip will be attracted to a magnet too. Most other metals, for example aluminium, copper and gold, are NOT magnetic. Two metals that aren’t magnetic are gold and silver.

It is the nickel which modifies the physical structure of the steel and makes it theoretically non-magnetic. 304 stainless steel contains chromium (min. The fact that it is also negligibly responsive to magnetic fields means that it can be used in applications where a non-magnetic metal is required.

Stainless steel type 304

Stainless steel remains stainless, or does not rust, because of the interaction between its alloying elements and the environment. Stainless steel contains iron, chromium, manganese, silicon, carbon and, in many cases, significant amounts of nickel and molybdenum.

The following types of stainless steel are typically magnetic:

• Ferritic Stainless Steels such as grades 409, 430 and 439.
• Martensitic Stainless Steel such as grades 410, 420, 440.
• Duplex Stainless Steel such as grade 2205.