Start with our guide to dental implant treatment, then see the pathway for options for missing teeth if you are still working out what to ask about.
An MRI booking form asks about implants, and you remember the replacement tooth you had fitted years ago. Does that count? Tell the doctor arranging your MRI and the imaging practice that you have a dental implant. Better Health Channel advises telling your doctor about any internal device or implant before an MRI. Let the scan team assess the information rather than deciding for yourself that your dental work is irrelevant. [1]
This is a question about preparing for a scan, not a reason to have dental treatment. If you need to ask Anchorage Dental Care about your existing implant records, use our contact details. The imaging team should tell you what information they need.
Summary of the Content:
- Declare your dental implant when you discuss the scan and complete the screening questions. Official guidance says internal devices and implants need to be disclosed. [1]
- Ask the imaging practice whether it needs information from the dentist who placed or restored your implant.
- If you do not know the details, say so. Ask what the scan team needs you to find out.
- Follow the imaging practice's instructions about the scan and anything it asks you to remove. [1]
Why does an MRI team ask about implants?
An MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to make images inside your body. Better Health Channel explains that some metal objects can be affected by that magnetic field, and internal metal devices can be damaged. That is why its preparation advice asks you to declare internal devices and implants. [1]
You do not need to work out the technical answer before calling. Start with what you know: that you have a dental implant, roughly when it was fitted, and which dental practice provided the care. Ask the imaging team which of those details it needs and whether it wants further records.
A picture of an implant in a general article cannot identify your own device. The model pictured here illustrates dental components; it is not a record of your treatment or evidence that a particular implant can go into an MRI scanner.
What should you say when booking the scan?
Make the dental implant part of your screening conversation. Better Health Channel says to tell your doctor about any internal device or implant before MRI. Do not leave it out just because the scan is being arranged for another part of your body. [1]
You could say: "I have a dental implant and I don't know its exact details. What information do you need before my appointment, and who should send it?"
That is a question you can ask even if you have moved house, changed dentists or had the work done a long time ago. Explain any gaps in what you know. If the imaging team requests records, ask it to describe the request clearly so you can pass it to the right practice.
Which dental records should you ask for?
Ask the imaging team first, rather than guessing which documents will be useful. You can then ask the practice that provided the implant care whether it holds the requested information and how to arrange its release.
Keep the request practical. Write down:
- The name and contact details of the imaging practice.
- The information it has specifically asked for.
- The date of your proposed scan and any deadline it has given you.
- Whether it wants the information sent directly or given to you to take along.
Do not assume a practice holds records of treatment performed elsewhere. If you are contacting us at Anchorage Dental Care, tell reception where the implant work was done and what the imaging practice has requested. Ask which records are available before booking a dental visit solely to obtain information.
Does declaring an implant mean the MRI will be cancelled?
Declaring it is a step in checking the scan, not an answer you need to make yourself. Better Health Channel describes risks involving internal metal devices and directs patients to discuss their implants with their doctor. Your referring doctor and imaging team need to advise on your circumstances. This article cannot clear your device for MRI. [1]
If you are worried about losing an appointment, contact the imaging practice before the day and ask what it still needs. Let that team explain whether the booking can proceed or whether further information is required.
What if you have removable dental work as well?
Tell the imaging practice about that too and follow its instructions. Better Health Channel describes removing metal objects before entering the scan room. Ask the team what that means for your own dental appliance; do not try to remove fixed dental work yourself. [1]
If you are unsure what your replacement teeth are called, describe them in ordinary words: whether anything comes out, where it is in your mouth and where the work was done. You do not need to choose a technical label before asking for help.
Keeping implant care and scan preparation separate
An MRI records request and a dental review are different conversations. For everyday care, our implant care and maintenance page explains that review arrangements depend on your mouth and restoration. Contact the dental team about bleeding, swelling, pain, movement or a chip rather than treating the records request as a dental examination. [2]
For background on the different treatment descriptions, see our article about types of dental implants. Our implant aftercare article covers the separate question of looking after an implant. Neither page replaces the scan team's screening process.
Frequently asked questions
What if I do not know which dental implant I have?
Tell the imaging team you do not know and ask what it needs. Contact the practice that provided the implant care with that specific request, rather than choosing an implant type from an online photograph.
Can my dentist's website confirm that I can have an MRI?
No general article can assess your own implant and planned scan. Better Health Channel advises discussing internal devices and implants with your doctor before MRI. Use the imaging practice's screening process and ask it to resolve any uncertainty. [1]
Do I need an appointment just to ask about records?
Start by contacting the practice and explaining the request. Ask what it holds and how to obtain it. You can find our principal dentist on Michael Shams' profile, call (08) 9407 7888 or use our contact page. If you also want your mouth assessed, ask the team which dental appointment to arrange.
Sources
Sources checked on 8 November 2026. This is general preparation information, not an assessment of MRI compatibility or individual medical or dental advice. Follow instructions from your referring doctor and imaging team. The reused image shows a dental model, not a patient's treatment result.
- [1] Better Health Channel, Victorian Department of Health: MRI scan.
- [2] Anchorage Dental Care: Dental implant care and maintenance.
- Anchorage Dental Care: Michael Shams, principal dentist.
- Anchorage Dental Care: Contact details.
Reference: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
