Fractal dimension on dental radiographs.
OBJECTIVE
(1) To compare fractal dimension (FD) from periapical radiographs with FD from panoramic radiographs; (2) to correlate FD with cortical thickness and morphology; and (3) to correlate FD with a reported history of osteoporotic fractures.


METHODS
Information on fracture and smoking history was obtained by a telephone interview with 281 elderly (>60 years of age) patients who had periapical and panoramic radiographs exposed on the same date. FD was measured in several locations on both types of radiograph. Mandibular cortical thickness and morphology were obtained from the panoramic radiograph.


RESULTS
FD measured in the mandible was lower than FD in the maxilla. Same-jaw measurements had a higher correlation than same-side measurements. FD measured on panoramic radiographs was lower than FD from periapical radiographs. There was a negative correlation between cortical thickness and FD. FD was higher in subjects with more mandibular cortical porosities and resorption. The mean panoramic FD from subjects with a history of osteoporotic fractures was significantly higher, after adjusting for smoking, gender, age, height and weight.


CONCLUSIONS
FD measured on panoramic radiographs is lower than FD measured on periapical radiographs. FD is higher in both types of radiograph in subjects with a thinner, severely eroded mandibular cortex and a history of osteoporotic fractures. This study confirms other reports that FD increases when bone mass decreases. In addition, it suggests that panoramic radiographs can be used as a possible alternative for the measurement of FD to periapical radiographs.
Bollen
A M
AM
Department of Orthodontics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
Taguchi
A
A
Hujoel
P P
PP
Hollender
L G
LG
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D017709:Fractals; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013223:Statistics as Topic