The Quantitative Method for Following Radiologic Healing in Endodontic Retreatment; 1-Year Follow-up Study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the changes in the internal bone structure at the periapical bone regions after retreatment in endodontics using fractal analysis method on periapical radiographs. Materials and Methods: 29 single-rooted, asymptomatic, single-visit retreatment teeth with apical lesion were included in the study. All teeth included in the study were selected from the maxilla anterior region. Periapical radiograph (T0) was taken for baseline diagnosis at the start of retreatment. Second periapical follow-up radiograph (T1) of the patients was taken at the end of 1 year. The first evaluation phase of the 1-year results of endodontic retreatment is based on the periapical index (PAI). Fractal dimension (FD) was calculated by box-counting method. The paired-sample t-test was used to compare T0 and T1 FDs. The independent samples t-test was employed to compare FD changes between the sexes. The significance level was set to 0.05. Results: PAI scores were found to be statistically significantly decreased in T1 radiographs compared to T0 (p