Evaluation of bone changes on dental panoramic radiography using mandibular indexes and fractal dimension analysis in children with familial mediterranean fever

Aim: It is aimed to measure the bone quality of children with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) in Tokat, where the disease is seen with a high rate, in Turkey, one of the countries where FMF is most common, using mandibular indices and fractal dimension analysis on panoramic radiography. Material Method: This thesis is a single-centered cross-sectional retrospective study using panoramic radiographs in the archive of Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University Faculty of Dentistry. Using dental panoramic radiographs, the results of mandibular cortical index (MCI), mental index (MI), panoramic mandibular index (PMI) were evaluated in 124 children with FMF and 124 healthy children, and fractal dimension analysis of six different regions (condyle, angulus, interdental) was performed. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS V23. Results: MCI distribution in children with FMF was similar to the control group (p>0.05). Mean MI (3.59) values in FMF patients were statistically higher than the control group (p=0.016). There was no statistically significant difference between FMF patients and control group in terms of PMI (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean fractal dimension (FD) values of the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Trabecular bone microarchitecture of children with FMF is similar to healthy children. Dental panoramic radiographs, which are among the first radiographic records in children with FMF, it can enable the evaluation of trabecular and cortical bone changes with mandibular indices and FD analysis method and refer patients to further examinations to determine bone mineral density when necessary.