Table 1 Socio-demographic features, oral hygiene practice and baseline condition by group
Fluoride group (N = 40) | Placebo group (N = 38) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
Type of SS (primary: secondary) (%) | 45.0 : 55.0 | 44.7 : 55.3 | N.S. |
Gender (Female: Male) (%) | 97.3 : 2.7 | 97.4 : 2.6 | N.S. |
Age at baseline (years) | |||
Mean (SD) | 49.2 (9.1) | 50.9 (10.8) | N.S. |
Range | 29–71 | 26–75 | |
Time since diagnosis (months) | |||
Mean (SD) | 117.5 (97.1) | 84.2 (48.4) | N.S. |
Range | 3–425 | 2–177 | |
Education level (%) | |||
Primary school or below | 30.0 | 21.1 | N.S. |
Secondary school or above | 70.0 | 78.9 | |
Employed (%) | 62.5 | 44.7 | |
Oral hygiene practice (%) | |||
Brushed twice or more per day | 100.0 | 89.5 | 0.001 |
Practised interdental cleaning | 70.0 | 78.9 | N.S. |
Daily use of fluoride (%) | |||
Toothpaste | 87.5 | 100.0 | <0.001 |
Mouthrinse | 37.5 | 34.2 | N.S. |
Three meals or less per day (%) | 90.0 | 89.5 | N.S. |
Saliva | |||
Unstimulated whole saliva | |||
Mean flow rate (SD), range | 0.22 (0.24), 0–0.99 | 0.26 (0.26), 0–1.12 | N.S. |
Mean pH (SD), range | 7.2 (0.4), 6.3–8.3 | 7.3 (0.5), 6.3–8.5 | N.S. |
Stimulated whole saliva | N.S. | ||
Mean flow rate (SD), range | 0.48 (0.58), 0–2.60 | 0.51 (0.47), 0–1.73 | N.S. |
Mean pH (SD), range | 7.8 (0.4), 6.8–8.6 | 7.7 (0.5), 6.5–8.5 | N.S. |
Dental condition | |||
Mean number of teeth (SD), range | 26.6 (3.0), 18–32 | 26.7 (3.8), 12–32 | N.S. |
Mean DMFS (SD), range | 45.6 (18.8), 4–78 | 41.2 (23.1), 1–114 | N.S. |
Mean DS (SD), range | 0.9 (1.1), 0–4 | 0.9 (0.9), 0–4 | N.S. |
Mean MS (SD), range | 25.0 (13.7), 0–65 | 25.7 (18.6), 0–94 | N.S. |
Mean FS (SD), range | 19.8 (12.5), 0–54 | 14.7 (10.6), 0–43 | 0.06 |
Mean plaque index (SD) (%) | 28 (25), 0–88 | 33 (26), 4–100 | N.S. |
Removable partial denture wearers (%) | 7.5 | 13.2 | N.S. |