Fractal analysis of the effects on mandibular bone of botulinum toxin therapy of the masseter muscle in patients with bruxism


POLAT BALKAN E., PAKSOY C. S., BAĞIŞ N.

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, cilt.137, sa.1, ss.83-88, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

Özet

Objective: We examined changes in the mandibular angle, ramus, and condylar neck of patients with bruxism after botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) injection into the masseter muscle as calculated with fractal analysis (FA) on panoramic radiographs (PRs). Methods: We examined the PRs of 3 groups of 22 patients each (n = 66) obtained upon presentation and 6 months later. One group included healthy controls without bruxism, one group included patients with untreated bruxism, and one group included patients with bruxism who had undergone BTX-A injection into the masseter muscle. We performed FA of the bilateral angle, ramus, and condylar neck of the PRs to calculate fractal dimension (FD). Results: The FD values of the angle on the second PRs of the untreated bruxism group were significantly higher than those of the other groups (P = .026), specifically when compared to the BTX-A injection group (P = .017). The FD values in the angle and ramus of the bruxism group were significantly higher on the second PRs (P ≤..005)) Conversely, the FD values in the angle of the BTX-A injection group were significantly lower on the second PR (P = .039). Conclusions: Masseter muscle hyperactivity due to bruxism increases bone density in masseter muscle attachment regions. BTX-A injection restricts muscle activity, thereby chnging bone structure and decreasing FD.