BACKGROUND: In a previous investigation we reported on magnetic forces in the static magnetic field of a 1.5 Tesla MRI system. The aim of the present investigation was to assess forces on orthodontic wires in a high field strength MRI system at 3 Tesla. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two different orthodontic wires (21 archwires, eight ligature wires and three retainer wires) were investigated in a 3 Tesla high field strength MRI system (Intera, Philips Medical Systems, Best, The Netherlands). Translational forces were measured by the deflection angle test (ASTM F2052-02), and rotational forces assessed on a 5-point qualitative scale. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Translational forces ranged between 43.5 mN and 136.1 mN for retainer wires and between 0.6 mN (Noninium) and 208.4 mN (Orthos Stainless Steel) for steel archwires. Translational forces were up to 53.8 times as high as gravitational forces for retainer wires and up to 54.5 times as high for steel archwires, associated with marked rotational forces for the most part. Archwires manufactured from nickel-titanium, titanium-molybdenum and cobalt-chromium and different ligature wires showed no or negligible forces in the magnetic field. Carefully ligated wires should not present a risk due to translational and rotational forces in the high field MRI system at 3 Tesla.
