You have an MRI booked and a crown in your mouth, and you are wondering whether the two mix. It is a fair question to ask before the day.
Short answer: MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves, not X-ray radiation, and healthdirect says you will be asked about metal in your body. Tell the imaging team about every crown. Timberlands Dental Clinic in Wanneroo, which makes same-day crowns from a 3D digital model, can help you pull together what you know. The imaging team makes the call.
What an MRI appointment changes when you have a crown
A crown is a cap that covers a damaged or weakened tooth. For MRI purposes it is something in your body that the imaging team should hear about. healthdirect explains that MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves rather than X-ray radiation. Because of the magnet, staff screen people before they go in.
The same page puts the screening step plainly: "You will be asked about any metal in your body." (healthdirect, MRI page, undated live page, checked 25 October 2026.) It also says metal and magnetic dental implants should be declared to staff. If you are unsure whether your crown counts, mention it anyway and let them judge.
The imaging team owns the safety decision for your scan. Your dentist can supply information, but your dentist does not clear you for an MRI, and neither does a website.
Safety and image quality are different questions
Safety asks whether anything in your mouth could cause a problem inside the scanner. Image quality asks whether the pictures will be readable. Different people answer them, and mixing them up is where a lot of online advice goes wrong.
An artefact is a patch of distortion or lost detail on the image near a material. A 2020 case report and literature review by Wilson and colleagues, set in an Australian clinical setting, describes how dental materials can differ in artefacts, displacement forces and heating. Artefact is a question about the picture. It is not, by itself, a measure of safety, and a clean-looking picture is not clearance.
That paper is one case report plus a literature review. It does not give a risk rate for any material, and we are not offering one. Treat it as supplementary reading, with the healthdirect page as the patient guidance. Be wary of pages claiming every ceramic or metal crown is completely fine or causes no interference. Materials differ, and a blanket statement skips the individual assessment.
What if you do not know the crown material?
Plenty of people cannot say what their crown is made of, especially if it was placed years ago or overseas. The case report points to unknown alloy composition as a reason for individual assessment, so the goal is to find out where you can, not to guess.
- Check your own paperwork, such as invoices, treatment summaries or health fund claims that name the tooth and date.
- Ask the practice that placed the crown for its treatment notes and the material, if recorded.
- If you cannot get records, say so plainly: "I have a crown and I do not know the material."
- Do not delay an important scan just to chase records. Tell the imaging provider or the doctor who referred you, and ask how they want to proceed.
If Timberlands placed your crown, ask when you call whether our notes record the material. If it was done elsewhere, we cannot promise to retrieve that practice's records, so start with them.
A temporary, loose or recently repaired crown needs to be mentioned
Mention it even if it seems minor. The Wilson case report describes a crown that dislodged, which is why retention and unknown composition merit individual assessment. One report is not a rate and does not mean your crown will move. It is simply why the detail is worth passing on.
Tell the imaging team about any of these:
- a temporary crown
- a crown that feels different when you bite or that rocks slightly
- a crown cemented or repaired recently
- a gap or taste that suggests the crown is not sitting tightly
If you can, see a dentist before the scan. At Timberlands, our crown process includes the dentist checking the fit and making any necessary adjustments before bonding, and that attention to fit is why we would rather look at a loose crown than have you wonder about it. A check does not mean the crown needs replacing, and a sound crown is usually left alone. Our post on whether dental crowns can be replaced explains how that decision is made.
What Timberlands can check and what radiology must decide
Your dentist can:
- look at the crown and check whether it feels secure
- tell you what our records show for work done with us
- note down the tooth, treatment date and any material recorded
- discuss options if the crown is loose or damaged, based on your own situation
The imaging team decides:
- whether you can be scanned and with what precautions
- whether your crown matters for the body area being scanned
- what to do if you notice something during the scan
If a crown ever does need replacing, that is a separate decision made after assessment. It is not a step to take just to prepare for an MRI. For everyday care of an existing crown, see how to take care of your teeth after a crown.
A two-column records checklist for the dentist and imaging team
| Information to gather | Who can confirm it |
|---|---|
| Tooth and treatment date | Your dental practice's records |
| Crown material, if recorded | The dentist who placed it, from treatment notes |
| Whether it feels loose | You first, then a dentist's check |
| Removable appliances | You and your dentist |
| Scan location and booking details | Your referral and the imaging provider |
Before the appointment, have these ready:
- MRI appointment details
- known restoration records, not guesses
- any looseness, recent change or temporary crown
- your dental practice's phone number
- a list of any other implants for the imaging staff
What to say when booking or when a symptom occurs in the scanner
When you book the scan, you could say: "I have a crown on one of my teeth. I know or do not know the material. Is there anything else you need from me before the day?"
When you call us, you could say: "I have an MRI on a set date. Can you tell me what your records show about my crown, and can someone check that it feels secure?"
On the day, repeat what you have told them to the radiographer, including anything that has changed since booking. If you feel heat, pulling, or a crown that moves or feels loose during the scan, tell the staff straight away. Please do not push through it quietly. The scan staff decide the next steps.
What not to do: self-removal, assumptions, delaying an important scan without advice
- Do not try to remove or loosen a crown yourself. Ask your dentist and imaging team what is needed for your own situation.
- Do not assume. "It's porcelain" or "it's probably fine" is not a record.
- Do not rely on blanket online reassurance. Your crown, your scan and your health history are individual.
- Do not skip or postpone an important scan on your own. If you are worried, talk to the doctor who referred you and the imaging provider.
- Do not hold back details. A crown, a bridge, a temporary and a plate all belong on the list.
When to contact us
Call Timberlands Dental Clinic on (08) 9306 4040, or use our contact page. The contact page lists Saturday opening from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with other hours shown there. Mention your MRI date so we can look at timing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to tell the MRI team about a dental crown?
Yes. healthdirect says you will be asked about any metal in your body, and it advises declaring metal and magnetic dental implants to staff. If you are unsure whether your crown counts, mention it and let the imaging team decide.
Can my dentist clear me for an MRI?
No. The imaging team owns the screening decision for your scan. Your dentist can tell you what your records show and check whether a crown feels secure, but the decision to scan sits with the radiology team.
What if I cannot find out what my crown is made of?
Say so plainly when you book and on the day: you have a crown and you do not know the material. The imaging team will tell you how they want to proceed. Please do not guess, and do not delay an important scan without talking to the doctor who referred you.
Does an artefact on the image mean the crown caused harm?
Not by itself. An artefact is distortion on the picture near a material, which is a question about image quality. Whether anything in your mouth is a problem inside the scanner is a separate question, and the imaging team answers it.
Sources and scope
This is general information, not personal advice. Your dentist and the imaging team can assess your own situation. Sources checked 25 October 2026: healthdirect MRI page (undated live page), the 2020 Wilson et al. case report and literature review (supplementary evidence, not official guidance), and the Timberlands same-day crowns and contact pages.
