Evaluation of the trabecular structure of the mandibular condyles by fractal analysis in patients with different dentofacial skeletal patterns

Yasemin Nur Korkmaz,Semiha Arslan

doi:10.21307/aoj-2021-010

Yasemin Nur Korkmaz, Semiha Arslan

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.21307/aoj-2021-010

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Abstract

Abstract Objective: An orthodontic malocclusion may affect the temporomandibular joint structures in susceptible individuals. This study aims to investigate the bone density of the mandibular condyles in patients presenting with different dentofacial skeletal patterns. Methods: Panoramic radiographs of 200 randomly selected patients with a skeletal and dental Class I, Class II division 1, Class II division 2 and Class III malocclusion were evaluated. Bone density of the right and left mandibular condyles was measured using fractal analysis. Results: No significant difference was detected between the right and left condyles in the various malocclusion groups. However, post-hoc tests showed that Class I patients had significantly higher FD values than Class III and Class II division 1 patients in both right and left condyles following intergroup comparisons. The only significant difference between the genders was detected in the left condyle of Class II division 1 patients, as male patients were found to have significantly higher FD values than females. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that Class II division 1 and Class III patients displayed significantly lower fractal dimension (FD) values in their mandibular condyles when compared to Class I patients. This might be associated with the possible presence of a temporomandibular disorder in Class II division I patients which resulted in changes to condylar structure, and with less bone complexity in the temporomandibular joint of older Class III patients likely due to continued condylar growth.

Highlights

Fractal analysis is used by radiologists as a dataset to differentiate bone morphology.[3]
An fractal dimension (FD) value increases as the complexity of the structure increases and a high FD value indicates that a structure is more complex.[4,5]
Panoramic radiographs taken from Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics archive were used to investigate the structure of mandibular condyles using fractal analysis

Summary

Introduction

Fractal analysis is used by radiologists as a dataset to differentiate bone morphology.[3] The analysis is a statistical structure test that is derived from fractal mathematics and provides a detailed expression of complex shapes and structures.[1,2]. A fractal dimension (FD) analysis describes the complexity of a structure by measuring similarities within the structure.[4,5] An FD value increases as the complexity of the structure increases and a high FD value indicates that a structure is more complex.[4,5] The measurable features of bone are the arrangement of trabeculae, bone thickness and bone. Australasian Orthodontic Journal Volume 37 No 1 May 2021.

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