title: Diagnosis of dental abnormalities in children using 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of dental abnormalities in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 16 patients (mean age, 10.8 yr) prospectively selected from 1,500 orthodontic patients. The selected patients included 3 with a mesiodens, 9 with supernumerary teeth other than a mesiodens, 1 with gemination, 1 with dilacerations, 1 with transmigration, and 1 with transposition. Three-dimensional (3D) images were acquired on a 1.5-T MRI scanner using a 3D turbo spin echo pulse sequence with a voxel size of 0.8 × 0.8 × 1 mm. The measurement time was 4 to 5 minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using natural MRI contrast, the teeth, dental pulp, mandibular canal, and cortical bone could be clearly delineated. The position and shape of malformed teeth could be assessed in all 3 spatial dimensions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI was found to be a well-tolerated imaging modality for the diagnosis of dental abnormalities in children and for orthodontic treatment and surgical planning. Compared with conventional radiography, dental MRI provides the advantage of 3-dimensionality and complete elimination of ionizing radiation, which is particularly relevant for repeated examinations in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Physics 5, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. Olga.Tymofiyeva@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tymofiyeva
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Proff
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rottner
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Düring
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Jakob
authors.forename: Ernst-Jürgen
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D002648:Child; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000473:pathology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005671:Fused Teeth / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014071:Tooth Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014079:Tooth Eruption, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000002:abnormalities; D014096:Tooth, Supernumerary / Q000175:diagnosis