Fractal dimension assessment of bone tissue in the region of incisives with and without apical root resorption

Introduction: Apical root resorption (ARR) is a common consequence of orthodontic treatment, and is characterized by the rounding or shortening of the tooth root. The quality of the bone tissue adjacent to root resorption can be assessed using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), by analyzing the fractal dimension (FD). Objective: The aim of this observational cross-sectional study was to assess the quality of the adjacent bone of the root apical third of maxillary incisors with ARR in patients under orthodontic treatment by determining the FD in CBCT and comparing them with the images of the corresponding contralateral teeth without ARR in the same individual. Material and methods: The study sample consisted of 20 patients under orthodontic treatment with edgewise appliance, who presented apical root resorption in a maxillary incisor (experimental group) and absence of root resorption in the corresponding contralateral incisor (control group), identified through routine periapical dental radiographs. The FD of four regions in the adjacent alveolar bone of incisors with ARR and their contralateral teeth without ARR was determined and compared. Results: In all bone regions evaluated, the incisors without ARR had higher FD values than incisors with ARR, but there was no significant difference. Conclusion: No statistical difference was found between the quality of the bone tissues, assessed through the analysis of the FD, in the apical region of the maxillary incisors with and without apical root resorption of the same orthodontic patient.