title: A clinical study of alveolar bone quality using the fractal dimension and the implant stability quotient.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been suggested that primary implant stability plays an essential role in successful osseointegration. Resonance frequency analysis (RFA) is widely used to measure the initial stability of implants because it provides superior reproducibility and non-invasiveness. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the fractal dimension from the panoramic radiograph is related to the primary stability of the implant as represented by RFA.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 22 patients who underwent dental implant installation at the Department of Periodontology of Seoul National University Dental Hospital. Morphometric analysis and fractal analysis of the bone trabecular pattern were performed using panoramic radiographs, and the implant stability quotient (ISQ) values were measured after implant installation using RFA. The radiographs of 52 implant sites were analyzed, and the ISQ values were compared with the results from the morphometric analysis and fractal analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Pearson correlation showed a linear correlation between the ISQ values of RFA and the parameters of morphometric analysis but not of statistical significance. The fractal dimension had a linear correlation that was statistically significant. The correlation was more pronounced in the mandible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, we suggest that the fractal dimension acquired from the panoramic radiograph may be a useful predictor of the initial stability of dental implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: In-Chul
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Rhyu
authors.forename: Jeong-Ug
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Cheol-Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min-Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Kyung-Hoe
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Huh