title: Artifacts in brain magnetic resonance imaging due to metallic dental objects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Artifacts caused by metallic objects, such as dental crowns, dental implants and metallic orthodontic appliances, are a common problem in head and neck MRI. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the main metal dental objects that produce artifacts on brain MRIs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Imaged metallic artifacts and their sources were identified. Artifact image plane was rated on a score of 0 or 1 (0--distinguishable for diagnosis and 1--not distinguishable for diagnosis).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-eight percent of the artifacts appearing in images were caused by orthodontic appliances, followed by dental titanium implants (18%) and metallic crowns (4%). Orthodontic appliances obtained the highest scores in all planes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that is difficult to avoid the effect of metallic artifacts in the maxillofacial regions on brain scan. Removing metallic parts of the orthodontic appliance should ensure diagnostically useful quality scans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Laboratory of Neuroimaging, University of Campinas, Cidade Universitaria Zeferino Vaz, Campinas, SP, Brazil. alfcosta@gmail.com
authors.forename: Andre L F
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Appenzeller
authors.forename: Clarissa-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Fabrício R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Verônica A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Zanardi
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cendes
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D003764:Dental Materials; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials