OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to observe and evaluate six 3.0 T sequences of metallic artifacts produced by metal dental crowns.

METHODSDental crowns fabricated with four different materials (Co-Gr, Ni-Gr, Ti alloy and pure Ti) were evaluated. A mature crossbreed dog was used as the experimental animal, and crowns were fabricated for its upper right second premolar. Each crown was examined through head MRI (3.0 T) with six sequences, namely, T₁ weighted-imaging of spin echo (T₁W/SE), T₂ weighted-imaging of inversion recovery (T₂W/IR), T₂ star gradient echo (T₂*/GRE), T2 weighted-imaging of fast spin echo (T₂W/FSE), T₁ weighted-imaging of fluid attenuate inversion recovery (T₂W/FLAIR), and T₂ weighted-imaging of propeller (T₂W/PROP). The largest area and layers of artifacts were assessed and compared.

RESULTSThe artifact in the T₂*/GRE sequence was significantly wider than those in the other sequences (P < 0.01), whose artifact extent was not significantly different (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONT₂*/GRE exhibit the strongest influence on the artifact, whereas the five other sequences contribute equally to artifact generation.