MRI IN DENTISTRY: AN INNOVATIVE AND ETHIC APPROACH

Aim: the aim of this poster is to suggest to the oral and maxillofacial community the use of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an alternative diagnostic exam to the conventional xray imaging. Methods: systematic reviews and metanalysis with high impact factor of the last 10 years in the main scientific databases were investigated and data were retrieved. We only included studies with statistically significant results. Results: 17 studies were found. The use Of MRI in dentistry was successfully applied in conservative and endodontic procedures (1 study), in oral surgery (1 study), in temporomandibular disorders (1 study), in oral and maxillofacial pathology (excluding oncology, 2 studies) and in guided dental implant planning (1 study). Compared to the conventional x-ray imaging, the MRI has numerous advantages; first of all its use isn’t associated with any ionizing radiation risk. Moreover, MRI is capable to identify areas of suppuration, oedema, hypovascularized bone and intra bone inflammatory infiltrate. Conclusions: the usefulness of MRI in dentistry has been confirmed; however, researchers pointed out that there are some disadvantages, such as the longer scanning time, the costs, the waiting lists and the reduced availability of MRI scanners.