Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
European annals of dental sciences (Online), cilt.51, sa.2, ss.67-73, 2024 (Hakemli Dergi)
Purpose: Surgical extraction of third molars can be challenging due to several factors, including increased bone density, which causes the bone structures to lose their elastic properties. The purpose of this study is to compare the trabecular structure surrounding the impacted mandibular third molar (M3M) with the normal alveolar trabecular pattern using the fractal analysis method. Materials and Methods: A total of 47 dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) of the patients were included in the study. The region of interest (ROI) was defined as the area between the distal root of the second molar and the mesial root of the third molar tooth (ROI1) and between the distal root of the first molar tooth and the mesial root of the second molar tooth (ROI2). Bone tissue was analyzed by FD analysis. Regions other than the area measured with FD were also evaluated using BMFD to assess the bone marrow. Fractal dimension (FD) and bone marrow fractal dimension (BMFD) analyses were performed on the selected ROIs using the ImageJ software. Results: The mean FD values of 47 patients were found to be 1.135 for ROI1 and 1.105 for ROI2, respectively. The mean BMFD values were found to be 1.591 for ROI1 and 1.587 for ROI2. The results of the FD analysis (p = 0.078) and BMFD analysis (p = 0.731) showed no significant difference between ROI1 and ROI2. Conclusions: It is crucial to evaluate the trabecular structure prior to surgery of the impacted M3Ms. Bone density surrounding the impacted M3Ms appears to be higher than that of healthy alveolar bone. Furthermore, the fact that males have denser bones than females should be considered in surgical procedures. The FD analysis method may be useful in evaluating the trabecular structure of impacted M3Ms.