Evaluating the effects of functional orthodontic treatment on mandibular osseous structure using fractal dimension analysis of dental panoramic radiographs

Objective: To evaluate the effects of functional appliance treatment on mandibular trabecular structure using fractal dimension (FD) analysis of dental panoramic radiographs.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using digital panoramic radiographs of 45 patients with Class II malocclusion treated with functional appliances (treatment group, mean age: 11.39 +/- 0.97 years; 23 girls, 22 boys) acquired before (T-0) and after (T-1) treatment and the panoramic radiographs of 45 control subjects who had undergone no orthodontic treatment (control group, mean age: 11.31 +/- 0.87 years; 23 girls, 22 boys). FD values in the condylar process, mandibular corpus, and mandibular angle were analyzed from the panoramic radiographs of both groups.Results: Analysis of changes in FD between T-0 and T-1 revealed significant increases in the FD values of the right and left condylar processes and right mandibular corpus in the treatment group (P<.001) and in the right condylar process in the control group (P<.05). Between-group comparisons demonstrated that the treatment group showed greater changes in the condylar process (right, P<.001; left, P<.05) and right mandibular corpus (P<.05) compared to controls. Correlation analysis between the cephalometric and FD changes in the treatment group showed the right condylar process changes were negatively correlated with GoGn/SN angle (P<.05) and positively correlated with Co-Go (P<.05), although these correlations were weak.Conclusions: FD analysis demonstrated significant changes in trabeculation of the condyle and mandibular corpus in the treatment group compared to the control group. Functional appliance treatment may lead to skeletal correction by altering skeletal form and trabeculation of the mandibular bone

Ortodontik Tedavi Öncesi, Hemen Sonrası ve 6 Ay Sonrasında Alveoler Kemiğin Trabeküler Yapısının Fraktal Analiz Kullanılarak Tahmini: İmplant Planlama Rehberi

Background:The aim of this study was to assess the trabecular bone pattern changes of orthodontically treated patients before orthodontic treatment (T0), immediately after (T1) and 6 months after (T2) the treatment by using fractal dimension (FD) analysis in order to guide implant applications. Methods:Totally 32 orthodontic patients who had one missing tooth were included in the study. Patients were treated to align the teeth and to create a dimensionally appropriate space for implant placement. Panoramic radiographs were taken with standard protocols at the time periods of before (T0), immediately after (T1) and 6 months after (T2) treatment. FD analysis was performed using Image J 1.3 software with the box-counting method. Results:The highest FD value measured before treatment (T0=1.47±0.14). Mean FD values of T2 was found statistically significantly higher (1.32±0.14) than T1 (1.19±0.15) (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions:It is suggested not to plan implant surgery immediately after the end of orthodontic treatment because trabecular bone gains more complex nature over time. FD analysis is a simple and cost-effective tool for examining bone structure in panoramic radiographs