The bone density studied through the fractal dimension in patients with periodontal disease

Abstract

We conducted a longitudinal study involving 240 patients grouped according to the classification of periodontal diseases agreed in the World Workshop by the different groups of specialists gathered there. We proceed to select images of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) that were used to perform a study of bone density through a precise algorithm allowing an accurate calculation of the fractal dimensions of such images. A detailed anthropometric analysis was also carried out. Our objective was to demonstrate that there exists a direct relationship between either the loss of bone or the changes related to its height and diameter and the variations in bone density. Our results highlight significant differences among the initial and moderate periodontal groups with respect to both the control and the periodontal groups, where patients experience a severe and controlled periodontal disease. We conclude that there is a variation in the architecture of patients with periodontal disease that have an acute component and have not been treated or their treatment is not effective and their bone loss does not slow down.