Fractal analysis of mandibular trabecular bone: optimal tile sizes for the tile counting method.

Author: Kyung Hoe HUH ¹ ; Jee Seon BAIK ; Won Jin YI ; Min Suk HEO ; Sam Sun LEE ; Soon Chul CHOI ; Sun Bok LEE ; Seung Pyo LEE
Author Information

1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Publication Type:Original Article
Keywords: Fractals; Dental Digital Radiograph; Trabecular Meshwork
MeSH: Bicuspid; Fractals; Humans; Incisor; Mandible; Molar; Trabecular Meshwork
From:Imaging Science in Dentistry 2011;41(2):71-78
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine the optimal tile size for the fractal dimension of the mandibular trabecular bone using a tile counting method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digital intraoral radiographic images were obtained at the mandibular angle, molar, premolar, and incisor regions of 29 human dry mandibles. After preprocessing, the parameters representing morphometric characteristics of the trabecular bone were calculated. The fractal dimensions of the processed images were analyzed in various tile sizes by the tile counting method. RESULTS: The optimal range of tile size was 0.132 mm to 0.396 mm for the fractal dimension using the tile counting method. The sizes were closely related to the morphometric parameters. CONCLUSION: The fractal dimension of mandibular trabecular bone, as calculated with the tile counting method, can be best characterized with a range of tile sizes from 0.132 to 0.396 mm.