King's College London

For many years, X-rays and scans have helped dentists see teeth and bone, but they only show part of the picture. They give limited detail about soft tissues, inflammation, and early disease.

Researchers are now exploring dental MRI (ddMRI). Unlike traditional imaging, it does not use radiation and can show detailed images of teeth, bone, gums, muscles, joints, and inflammation in one scan.

Recent advances in MRI technology and dental-specific equipment have made this possible.

More personalised and confident decisions

Early studies published online in The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry suggest ddMRI can:

• detect active inflammation
• tell the difference between healing and disease
• improve understanding of gum and implant health
• support complex treatment planning
• provide safer imaging for children and patients needing repeated scans

This extra detail could help dentists answer key questions, such as whether an infection is still active, whether the jaw is under stress, and whether tissues are healthy enough for implants or treatment. It may be especially useful for complex cases, including patients with medical conditions, past trauma, or extensive dental work.

As Dr Saoirse O’Toole explains, “Dental MRI is designed to complement rather than replace X-rays or CT scans, helping dentists make more personalised and confident decisions. It allows us to see not just structure, but activity including whether tissues are inflamed, healing, or under stress.”

“Although ddMRI is not yet routine, it does show strong promise. Some challenges remain, including cost, access, and training but this new approach could help dentists see more while exposing patients to less.”

Dentsply Sirona, Siemens and King's Together Seed Fund jointly funded the research.