A method for suppressing metal artifacts in a radiographic image, the method executed at least in part on a computer, obtains at least one two-dimensional radiographic image of a subject, wherein the subject has one or more metal objects and identifies a material that forms the one or more metal objects and a radiation energy level used to generate the obtained image. The obtained radiographic image is segmented to identify boundaries of the metal object. A conditioned radiographic image is formed by replacing pixel values in the radiographic image that correspond to the one or more metal objects with compensating pixel values according to the identified material and the identified radiation energy level. The conditioned radiographic image is then displayed.