Craniofacial magnetic resonance imaging with a gold solder-filled chain-like wire fixed orthodontic retainer.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most powerful tools in diagnostic imaging. With the growing rates of orthodontic treatment, there are increasing chances of post-orthodontic treatment patients permanently wearing fixed retainers who shall undergo MRI examination.Three adolescent patients were referred for craniofacial MRI examination. All the patients had completed full orthodontic treatment with a retention protocol of permanently wearing bonded gold solder-filled wire fixed retainers. In the first 2 cases, the MRI examination was performed on a 1.5-T system and in the last case on a 3-T system.All the images achieved were of good quality and high resolution. No adverse effects were reported by the first 2 patients including no complaint of heat sensation or any other discomfort in the anterior teeth area. The third patient complained of a headache during the MRI examination.Radiologists and technicians may consider allowing performance of MRI examination using 1.5-T systems when a gold solder-filled wire fixed retainer is involved with no concern regarding the patient's health or the accuracy of the MRI scans.