COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF MANDIBULAR CONDYLAR TRABECULAR BONE CHANGES

This study aimed to compare changes in mandibular condylar trabecular bone structure in growing patients treated with a maxillary expansion appliance or a Twin Block–Monoblock appliance, using fractal analysis of panoramic radiographs. This retrospective study was designed to include 20 patients, allocated to two groups according to the appliance used: Group A, maxillary expansion appliance (n = 10), and Group B, Twin Block–Monoblock appliance (n = 10). Panoramic radiographs obtained before treatment (T0) and after treatment (T1) were evaluated. Mandibular condylar trabecular bone structure was assessed using fractal dimension analysis. The decrease in mean fractal dimension in Group A from 1.3261 ± 0.0599 at T0 to 1.2144 ± 0.054 at T1, and in Group B from 1.2567 ± 0.1314 at T0 to 1.218 ± 0.1972 at T1. The statistically significant pre- to post-treatment differences (p < 0.05). The mandibular condylar trabecular patterns change during treatment with both maxillary expansion and Twin Block–Monoblock appliances.