Evaluation of mandibular trabecular bone by fractal analysis on panoramic radiograph in paediatric patients with sleep bruxism

OpenAlex İngilizce

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the trabecular bone density in the mandible of paediatric patients diagnosed with sleep bruxism (SB) using the fractal analysis method on panoramic radiographs. METHODS: . Three areas were identified on the panoramic radiographs of the patients: the geometric center of the condyle, the angulus region under the mandibular canal, and the distal region of the mental foramen. Regions of interest (ROIs) of 60 × 60 pixels were selected in these three locations, and fractal dimensions (FDs) were calculated. Results were compared with the control group. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the right and left FD values, and male and female FD values in all regions and both groups (p > .05). In the angulus (p = .03) and condyle (p = .03) regions, the SB group had a significantly higher FD value than the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the SB and control groups in the corpus region (p = .98). A moderate negative correlation arose between age and condyle FD values among controls (r = -0.38, p = .02). CONCLUSION: Fractal dimension values evaluating trabeculation of the mandibular bone are affected by SB in the angulus and condyle regions.