Perbedaan Nilai Dimensi Fraktal Tulang Trabekula Mandibula Melalui Radiograf Panoramik pada Masyarakat Kota Medan dengan Pola Makan Vegetarian dan Nonvegetarian

Abstract

Vegetarians are known to be more susceptible to experience bone mineral density (BMD) decreases compared to non-vegetarians. Trabecular bone is sensitive to any changes that disrupt the balance of bone metabolism. Evaluation of bone density on panoramic radiographs can be performed by analysing the fractal dimensions of mandibular trabecular bone. This analytical cross-sectional study was aimed to evaluate the mandibular trabecular bone fractal dimension values on panoramic radiographs of vegetarians and non-vegetarians in Medan City. This study used purposive-sampling technique and obtained 30 digital panoramic radiographs of vegetarians and non-vegetarians in Medan City, aged 20 to 40 years, between January and February 2023, at the Dental and Oral Hospital of North Sumatera University and Laboratory Clinic Pramita Medan. Fractal analysis was performed using ImageJ 1.54c software with the box-counting method. Data distribution was assessed using the Saphiro-Wilk test. Data were analysed using independent samples T-test. The results showed that the fractal dimension values of the mandibular trabecular bone were significantly different in the two groups (p = 0.000). The mean fractal dimension value was 1.114 ± 0.123 in vegetarian mandibular trabecular bone and 1.367 ± 0.074 in nonvegetarian mandibular trabecular bone. It can be concluded that the mean fractal dimension values were lower in vegetarian mandibular trabecular bone than in nonvegetarian mandibular trabecular bone. A vegetarian diet could significantly reduce the fractal dimension values of mandibular trabecular bone.