Objective: The aim of this study was to quantitatively calculate and compare the changes in regenerated bone around the implant in graftless and grafted sinus lift procedures using fractal dimension (FD) analysis, and to provide an additional criterion for clinical preference.
Methods and materials: The study included 65 patients (29 graftless and 36 grafted) at the Faculty of Dentistry in xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Graftless and grafted sinus lift techniques were compared in terms of FD and bone density (BD) on panoramic radiographs. Student's t-test was used to compare the mean values of FD and BD in patients with graftless and grafted sinus lifting. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to analyse the correlation of FD and BD data with age. Statistical significance was accepted at a p < .05.
Results: The FD and BD were not statistically significant between two groups (p>.05). The FD and BD parameters were higher in men for both sinus lift techniques.
Conclusions: This study has shown that the graftless and grafted sinus lift techniques have similar FD and BD outcomes. Therefore, we conclude that the graftless technique is preferable for maxillary sinus lift because of its relatively simple technique.