Beyond X-Rays: Unveiling the Future of Dental Diagnosis with Dental Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Diagnostic imaging is fundamental in dentistry for disease detection, treatment planning, and outcome assessment. Traditional radiographic methods, such as periapical and panoramic radiographs, along with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), utilize ionizing radiation and primarily focus on visualizing bony structures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is emerging as a non-ionizing alternative that offers superior soft tissue contrast. However, conventional MRI faces challenges in visualizing mineralized tissues due to rapid signal decay from short transverse relaxation times (T2). Recent advancements exploring short T2 sequences, including Ultrashort Echo Time (UTE), Zero Echo Time (ZTE), and Sweep Imaging with Fourier Transformation (SWIFT), allow direct visualization of dental hard tissues. UTE captures signals from short T2 tissues using rapid pulse sequences, while ZTE employs encoding gradients before radiofrequency pulses to reduce signal loss. SWIFT enables near-simultaneous excitation and acquisition, improving ultrashort T2 detection. Additionally, customized intraoral and extraoral surface coils enhance image resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), increasing MRI's relevance in dentistry. Research highlights the potential of these short T2 sequences for early caries detection, pulp vitality assessment, and diagnosing jaw osseous pathology. While high-field MRI (3T–7T) improves resolution, it also increases susceptibility artifacts, whereas low-field systems with specialized coils and short sequences offer promising alternatives. Despite obstacles such as cost and hardware constraints, ongoing studies refine protocols to enhance clinical applicability. Incorporating MRI in dentistry promises a safer, more comprehensive imaging methodology, potentially transforming diagnostics. This review emphasizes three types of short T2 sequences that have potential applications in the maxillofacial region.