Changes in the fractal dimension of peri-implant trabecular bone after loading: a retrospective study

Purpose: To assess bony trabecular changes potentially caused by loading stress around dental implants using fractal dimension analysis. Methods: Fractal dimensions were measured in 48 subjects by comparing radiographs taken immediately after prosthesis delivery with those taken 1 year after functional loading. Regions of interest were isolated, and fractal analysis was performed using the box-counting method with Image J 1.42 software. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze the difference in fractal dimension before and after implant loading. Results: The mean fractal dimension before loading (1.4213 +/- 0.0525) increased significantly to 1.4329 +/- 0.0479 at 12 months after loading (P<0.05). Conclusions: Fractal dimension analysis might be helpful in detecting changes in peri-implant alveolar trabecular bone patterns in clinical situations.