Concerns About My Son's Upcoming MRI and Dental Crowns
My four-year-old son, who has eight stainless steel dental crowns, is scheduled for a brain MRI as part of the evaluation for potential epilepsy, specifically focal or partial seizures. I find myself quite anxious about the possibility of image distortion caused by his dental work. The entire process we've been going through to understand his symptoms has been extremely stressful for him, and he is genuinely frightened of medical visits. He will be undergoing sedation for the MRI, and I sincerely hope he does not need to experience this procedure more than once, particularly the sedation aspect. I'm also worried that the presence of the dental crowns could compromise the quality of the images. How common is it for dental crowns to interfere with MRI results? I would greatly appreciate any advice, reassurance, or insights on this matter!
Answers (1)
8/8/2025, 2:10:45 AM
OpenHealth AI
It's completely understandable to feel anxious about your son's upcoming MRI, especially given his medical history and the sedation involved. Let's address your concerns regarding the dental crowns and the procedure itself.
Main Points:
- Dental crowns, particularly stainless steel, typically do not interfere significantly with MRI imaging.
- Proper communication with the medical team before the MRI can help mitigate concerns.
- Managing your son's anxiety around medical visits is crucial for his comfort.
Explanation:
MRI machines use strong magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the brain. Stainless steel crowns are usually safe in an MRI setting and do not cause major distortions in the images. While there may be some minor artifacts from the crowns, they generally do not compromise the quality of the diagnostic images significantly. It's excellent that you are seeking answers, as being informed can help alleviate some of your worries.
Next Steps:
- Communicate with the MRI Facility: Prior to the MRI, talk to the technologist or the medical team about your concerns regarding the dental crowns. They can provide reassurance and confirm that they will take necessary precautions.
- Prepare Your Son: Explain the process in simple terms, focusing on how it will be quick and that he will be safe. Consider using a favorite toy or story to help him feel more comfortable with the idea of the MRI.
- Discuss Sedation with the Doctor: Ask about the reasons for sedation and what you can expect. Understanding the sedation will help to alleviate both your and your son's anxiety.
- Plan a Comfort Strategy: Bring items that comfort your son, like a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, to help reduce his stress during the visit.
If you have any additional questions as the date approaches, keep an open line with the healthcare team. Reassuring your son with consistent support will also empower him during this challenging time. You're doing a great job advocating for his needs!
Related Questions
Worried About My Mom's Recent Tick Bite and Symptoms
I'm really worried about my mother, who is 69. Although I’m not a medical professional, my research background allows me to gather information effectively, so my concerns are grounded based on the situation at hand. For the past few days, I’ve been staying with my parents to assist them, and I’ve observed some troubling changes in my mom's behavior. She’s been excessively fatigued over the last four to five days, requiring multiple naps daily, which is highly unusual for her since she normally avoids napping altogether. Despite being in her late 60s, she is typically active and healthy; she plays pickleball several times a week and doesn’t have any known health issues that would explain her current state. There haven’t been any recent changes in her medication or significant shifts in her diet that we are aware of. Additionally, she has mentioned experiencing headaches on a couple of days, and she’s been dealing with stomach cramps. Although she describes the sensation as similar to gas pains, she’s been needing to use the bathroom more frequently, although it hasn’t presented as diarrhea—rather, her bowel movements have seemed relatively normal, as per her description. Moreover, she has appeared quieter than usual and has had difficulty formulating her thoughts, a concern she seems to dismiss. While my father hasn’t noticed anything off, I found it troubling that she struggled to articulate her symptoms when I inquired about them, often replying with vague “I don’t know” types of responses, which is uncharacteristic. Today, during a regular gathering with two friends, including one with over 30 years as a nurse, they expressed concern about her demeanor, noting that she didn’t seem quite herself. One friend remarked on my mom’s shaky hands, which my mom assured were not indicative of weakness. In fact, her friend offered her some fruit, thinking it might be a case of low blood sugar, but my mom is not diabetic, which made me wonder further. After asking more targeted questions, I learned that she routinely gets bug bites, especially ticks. When I probed into her latest experience with a tick, she revealed it happened about a week ago in her genital area, which she had kept to herself out of embarrassment. This particular tick felt different from the usual ones; she experienced a sharp pain, and while she managed to remove it fairly easily, it was clearly engorged, and she had a significant bump afterward. Even though she has removed many ticks before, she remarked that she had never encountered one that was engorged in such a manner and typically identifies them very quickly. Currently, there is still a bump at the site of the bite, but it hasn't deteriorated or developed a rash to my knowledge. I’m genuinely worried it could be something serious like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). A friend of mine had a harrowing experience with it just last year after being bitten by a tick. I’m urging her and my dad to contact her doctor as soon as she wakes up, but they seem to think I'm overreacting and are resistant to the idea of heading to urgent care tonight, especially since she’s feeling unwell, which I completely understand. Nonetheless, I feel that if this might be a tick-borne illness, the timing of treatment could be crucial. Am I being overly dramatic? How insistent should I be in encouraging her to call her doctor or visit urgent care? I don’t want to alarm them unnecessarily, but I also don’t want to overlook a potentially serious health issue—the timeline and her symptoms genuinely worry me. I value any advice you might have for a concerned daughter. Thank you!
Understanding Lab Results: Seeking Guidance
Trigger Warning Consideration. In brief, I've been facing a range of troubling symptoms and sought medical advice, leading to lab tests. The results were abnormal, and now I’ve been referred to a hematologist. I would greatly appreciate any insights or expectations from those with experience in similar situations. To be honest, I'm feeling rather anxious about it all. For some context, I've recently experienced sickness after physical activity. It escalated to the point where even standing for a mere five minutes would trigger shakes and occasional nausea. I've also been battling significant fatigue; I spent an entire day in bed recently and still woke up feeling exhausted. My stress levels have surged lately, following a COVID-19 infection about three weeks ago. I’ve been experiencing lightheadedness that at times feels dizzying, though I felt surprisingly well over the past 32 hours. Regarding my health background, I have type 2 diabetes. Here are the symptoms I've been dealing with: - Lightheadedness - Stomach discomfort (not certain if this is related) - Fatigue - Headaches Today, I visited my family doctor who conducted some blood tests. The results included: - White Blood Cell Count (WBC): 15.2 (Normal range: 4.6 - 12.4) - Absolute Neutrophils: 9.9 (Normal range: 1.8 - 8.6) - Absolute Lymphocytes: 3.9 (Normal range: 0.8 - 3.5) - Absolute Basophils: 0.2 (Normal range: 0 - 0.1) - Vitamin K levels were low (test results not available) Everything else fell within normal limits. My family does not have a known history of blood disorders or cancers, though my father has been battling an unidentified infection for years, and the doctors remain perplexed by his condition. My GP is referring me to a hematologist, and upon receiving the news, I made the mistake of looking up information online. Unsurprisingly, the internet brought up alarming possibilities, including infections, blood disorders, or cancer. I appreciate any information or experiences you could share that might shed light on what the hematologist may uncover. Thank you in advance for your help!
Understanding the Significance of an Abnormal ECG in Context of Recent Health Issues
I’m a 36-year-old woman weighing 120 pounds, living with neuropathy for which I typically take 300mg of gabapentin up to three times a day, though I usually only require it once or twice. Additionally, I have been on 22mg of methadone for approximately the past twelve years and have maintained sobriety during that time. I was diagnosed with pneumonia just yesterday. I’ve been expressing concerns about having this condition since February, resulting in a weight loss of 40 pounds over that period. After much persistence, I finally secured a Chest CT scan, but the results brought up unexpected findings that were not discussed with me. Specifically, I am unsure if these findings could be attributed to the pneumonia, as they indicated a ground-glass opacity in the right middle lung. If these issues aren’t related to my recent illness, I wonder if it’s necessary to address them as a priority. Further insights on the ECG results provided would be greatly appreciated.
Navigating the Process for an ADHD Evaluation
I’m a 20-year-old currently living with my parents in California. My only mental health concern has been a substance use disorder, for which I've been receiving treatment with suboxone/sublocade for over a year and a half. My primary psychiatrist has recommended that I seek an external evaluation for ADHD. However, I’ve encountered significant obstacles: the clinics they suggested charge more than $10,000 for a complete assessment. My college doesn’t provide testing services, and the psychiatrists or psychologists I've reached out to have lengthy waiting periods, often stretching for several months. Feeling quite discouraged, I'm finding it hard to make any progress, as each avenue I explore seems to present new challenges. Does anyone have recommendations on how to navigate this situation?
Concerns about Unexplained Blood Loss in My Father-in-Law
My father-in-law, a 63-year-old man with type 2 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, has a history of kidney problems, including a significant issue three years ago that resulted in septic conditions due to a kidney stone. He also smokes and drinks socially. Residing in a remote area without health insurance, he seldom visits a doctor. Over the past few months, he has exhibited troubling symptoms including chronic fatigue, bone discomfort, breathlessness, and sleeplessness. His condition worsened to the point where he sought medical attention, prompting a blood transfusion after his hemoglobin level was alarmingly low at 7. Since that initial transfusion, he has required two more in just three months. Medical professionals are aware that he is experiencing blood loss but have yet to determine the source. Despite undergoing both an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, results showed no abnormalities. While I’m no specialist in oncology and recognize that my concerns may not hold weight with trained physicians, I can’t help but wonder if this situation might suggest multiple myeloma. However, due to financial constraints from his lack of insurance, pursuing further tests could be problematic. Should I encourage him to discuss this possibility with his doctor, or am I perhaps misreading the signs?