Ex vivo evaluation of fractal analysis method and fractal dimension on images acquired by different digital radiological techniques

Objective: Radiological examination has an important role in dental practice.There are several imaging methods that provide diverse information about hard tissue. In recent years, radiographic analyzes have brought a novel aspect to radiographic evaluation. One of these analyzes, the fractal analysis (FA) method, made it possible to evaluate the bone structure objectively. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the fractal dimension (FB) obtained from different radiographic images. Method: This study was carried out at Akdeniz University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology. For this study, 15 sheep hemimandibulae; were imaged with periapical, panoramic radiographic devices and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in two different modes (standard and high resolution). In the images, FA was applied on the region of interest determined on the angulus mandible. The data were analyzed in the Jamovi 1.6.23 statistical package program. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The maximum FB value is fractal dimension obtained from digital periapical radiographic images (PaFD) (1.28±0.04), and the minimum FB value is fractal dimension obtained from standard resolution cone beam computed tomography images (STD-CBCTFD) (1.12±0.10). Although there was no statistically significant difference between the PaFB value and the fractal dimension value obtained from digital panoramic radiographic images (PanFD) (p=0.485), PaFD value was found to be significantly higher than STD-KIBTFB (p<0.001) and fractal dimension value obtained from high-resolution cone beam computed tomography images (HRKIBTFB) (p=0.007). There was no significant difference between PanFB and HRKIBTFB value (p=0.325), however, PanFB value was found to be significantly higher than STD-KIBTFB value (p=0.004). There was no statistically significant difference between HR-KIBTFB value and STD-KIBTFB value (p=0.122). Conclusion: According to the results of our study, it is thought that the most convenient method for FA may be the periapical imaging technique. CBCT may be preferred after periapical or panoramic radiographic imaging