[Orthodontic brackets in high field MR imaging: experimental evaluation of magnetic field interactions at 3.0 Tesla]

To evaluate static magnetic field interactions for 32 commonly used orthodontic brackets in a 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system.

32 orthodontic brackets consisting of a steel alloy (n = 27), a cobalt-chromium alloy (n = 2), ceramic (n = 1), ceramic with a steel slot (n = 1), and titanium (n = 1) from 13 different manufacturers were tested for magnetic field interactions in a static magnetic field at 3.0 T (Gyroscan Intera 3.0 T, Philips Medical Systems, Best, Netherlands). The magnetic deflection force F (z) [mN] was evaluated by determining the deflection angle beta [ degrees ] using the established deflection angle test according to the ASTM guidelines. The magnetic-field-induced rotational force F (rot) or torque was qualitatively determined using a 5-point grading scale (0: no torque; + 4: very strong torque).

In 18 of the 32 brackets, the deflection angle beta was found to be > 45 degrees and the translational force exceeded the gravitational force F (G) on the particular bracket (F (z): 1.2 - 45.7 mN). The translational force F (z) was found to be up to 68.5 times greater than the gravitational force F (G) (F (z)/F (G): 1.4 - 68.5). The rotational force F (rot) was correspondingly high (+ 3/+ 4) for those brackets. For the remaining 14 objects, the deflection angles were < 45 degrees and the torque measurements ranged from 0 to + 2. The static magnetic field did not affect the titanium bracket and the ceramic bracket. No measurable translational and rotational forces were found.

Of the 32 brackets investigated for magnetic field interactions at 3.0 T, 18 (56.25 %) were unsafe in the MR environment according to the ASTM guidelines. However, the forces measured were minimal compared to the forces generally necessary for dislodging these bonded orthodontic brackets from tooth surfaces. The implications of these results for orthodontic patients undergoing MR examinations at 3 Tesla are discussed.