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Broken root canal tool and MRIs ?

H

headacheguy

Junior member
Joined
Apr 27, 2007
Messages
3
Hello. I had a root canal done some time ago and the tip of one of the tools broke off in a canal, I saw a specialist but they couldn't get it out. They cleared the other canals and left the bit in there. That went fine, didn't notice any problems from it and the dentist that started the root canal didn't charge me and was helpful in finding me a specialist.

Now recently I've been having some headaches and other possible neurological symptoms (unrelated to root canal), and I might need to have an MRI done soon, but I'm unsure if that broken tool tip lodged in my tooth is MRI compatible. I called the specialist I saw back when I had the root canal and they said it's a microscopic piece of stainless steal, though I also remember it might be titanium. Can people who have had root canals with the broken peice still in have MRIs or do they need to have alternative scans like cat scan and such?

I understand this is a crossing issue between dentistry and MRI specialists but if anyone could give me their advice it would be much appreciated. I have already informed my doctors of this so there's no worry that something could go wrong, but until I get answers for that I was hoping to find some insight here.

Thanks :)
 
Im sorry I just realized this was a dental fear forum. oy! I'm just kind of loopy from these headaches so didnt even notice the logo this morning when I clicked to here from google, oops! I'll be sure to read the rules threads next time.
 
It might well be Nickel Titanium which is non-magnetic, so would be OK for MRI, you'd need to ask the dentist who put it there...
 
Hello, thanks for the reply. I had called the specialist I saw to try to get it removed and they said stainless steel, but I have memory of the mentioning of titanium back then.. something about it not showing up in xrays.

It was a couple years ago, do you think if I called my old dentist they would still have it on record?

Would there be any tests that could determine if it's safe? Even if the dentist says it's that material, with the specialist saying it's steel I wouldn't want to risk having something rip through my head. My symptoms are getting much worse, 2 docs want me to have an MRI (general and eye doctor) but I cant because of the tool, seeing a neuro in 2 weeks so I'm not sure what to do. I'll call my old dentist now.
 
In the UK lawyers say we must keep records for at least 7 yrs, so your old dentist should still have it.
 
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