Statistical analysis
caries arrest
REGRESSION, PLAQUE
Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp and significance was set at p < 0.05. Bivariate comparison between groups was done using t test, Mann Whitney U test and X2 test. Analysis was conducted at lesion level based on intention to treat approach. Lesions in children lost to follow up and surfaces that were restored or extracted by 6 months were considered active. The effect of the interventions on caries arrest (yes/ no) was assessed in bivariate analysis using Pearson Chi-Square test, followed by multi-level multiple binary logistic regression analysis to account for clustering of teeth in children and control for confounders: child sex and age, mother’s education, baseline lesion severity (moderate lesions- ICDAS codes 3 or 4 and advanced lesions- ICDAS codes 5 or 6), sugar score, dental visits, toothbrushing frequency, and plaque index. dmfs score was removed due to collinearity with ICDAS codes. Children were included as random effect variables. The interaction between the intervention and baseline lesion severity was assessed by calculating the interaction p value. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs), p value and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) overall and per subgroup were calculated.