Progress in Orthodontics

Table 2 Comparison^a of outcomes based on surfaces

From: Long-term clinical and bacterial effects of xylitol on patients with fixed orthodontic appliances

Variables	From baseline to	Group
		Gum		Mint		Control
		Z	P value	Z	P value	Z	P value
Plaque	3rd month	−3.274^b	0.001	−3.611^b	0	−3.123^b	0.002
	6th month	−0.423^b	0.672	−0.570^b	0.568	−2.600^b	0.009
	12th month	−1.890^b	0.059	−0.756^b	0.45	−2.646^b	0.008
Plaque MS counts	3rd month	−1.763^b	0.078	−2.313^b	0.021	−2.979^b	0.003
	6th month	−1.500^b	0.134	−2.786^b	0.005	−2.938^b	0.003
	12th month	−2.082^b	0.037	−1.877^b	0.061	−3.002^b	0.003
Salivary MS counts	3rd month	−0.351^c	0.725	−1.421^b	0.155	−1.265^b	0.206
	6th month	−0.531^b	0.595	−0.816^c	0.414	−0.216^c	0.829
	12th month	−1.342^c	0.18	−0.879^c	0.38	0.000^d	1

^aWilcoxon Signed-Rank Test
^bBased on positive ranks (decreased score)
^cBased on negative ranks (increased score)
^dThe sum of negative ranks equals the sum of positive ranks (no change)

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