Dentsply Sirona and Siemens Healthineers Developing Dental-Dedicated MRI System

In a partnership, Dentsply Sirona and Siemens Healthineers presented plans for the world's first dental-dedicated magnetic resonance imaging (ddMRI) system at the European Congress of DentoMaxilloFacial Radiology back in mid-June 2024. The MAGNETOM Free.Max Dental Edition ddMRI system is a result of a joint research project between the 2 companies, aiming to enhance oral diagnostics by introducing MRI technology in dentistry, according to a press release from Dentsply Sirona. They are collaborating with leading dental universities globally.

The ddMRI system is designed to add significant value to dentomaxillofacial diagnostics by providing detailed soft tissue contrast, aiding in the early detection of oral diseases and potentially improving treatment outcomes. This system is expected to be particularly beneficial for diagnosing conditions such as third molar extractions, endodontics, temporomandibular disorders (TMJ), periodontitis, and orthodontics, per the press release.

The MAGNETOM Free.Max Dental Edition will feature a dental-specific receiver coil for easy patient setup and high-quality imaging. Tailored scan protocols will streamline MR image acquisition, and an automated focus on dental anatomy will guide operators efficiently. The system is designed to have a setup, scan, and cleanup time of 20 minutes or less, comparable to a CBCT scan. With a compact footprint and innovative cooling technology, the system aims to reduce infrastructure requirements, making it suitable for dental schools and universities.

Professor Rubens Spin-Neto, DDS, PhD from Aarhus University highlighted the potential of this new imaging technique for improving dentomaxillofacial diagnostics by providing additional information compared to traditional CBCT scans. “Seeing more by obtaining additional information to a CBCT scan (for example, the soft tissues) means being able to treat patients in a more targeted and maybe more successful way.”

Alongside Professor Dr Donald Tyndall, Dr Spin-Neto presented on ddMRI in dentomaxillofacial radiology at the conference, explaining the physics of MR imaging and showcasing its benefits.

Max Milz, Group Vice President Connected Technology Solutions at Dentsply Sirona, expressed enthusiasm in the press release for making this advanced diagnostic technology accessible to dentists and patients. “We’re very grateful for the excellent collaboration with Siemens Healthineers, which will allow us to make the diagnostic power of ddMRI available to dentists and their patients in the future. Also, our cloud platform DS Core has the potential to support ddMRI, as clinicians would be able to use the platform to share patients’ cases with referral dentists.”