M Beerens

EFFECTS OF MI PASTE PLUS ® : A 12-MONTHS FOLLOW-UP 5 89 However, brushing methods during 1-year follow-up were frequently changed and often used alternated. A total of 403 caries-affected surfaces in 942 elements were followed up throughout the investigation. The affected elements were distributed as follows: 14.3 % central incisors, 22.8 % lateral incisors, 29.1 % cusps, and 33.8 % premolars. This distribution was similar for the two groups. Overall compliance in the study was moderate. Questions regarding frequency of brushing and product use revealed that, during the first 6 weeks of the study, the subjects generally brushed twice a day and used the product at night-time after brushing. Between 6 weeks and 12 months, the subjects forgot to brush and to use the product on average once a week, and this always occurred at night-time. Assessment of product use via returned product failed because none of the subjects returned their product tubes at recall visits, despite our request. TABLE 1. Baseline data, showing no statistical differences between the groups. Groups MI Paste Plus ® (A) Control (B) Allocated to intervention group 35 30 Gender Ratio M:V (%male) 16:19 (45.7%) 12:18 (40.0%) Mean participant age (years) 15y8m 15y3m Fixed appliances (FA) duration 2y5m 2y3m DMFS 2.09 2.07 Bleeding on probing (%) 36 33 Lesion changes assessed by QLF Arresting or reduction of extent of enamel lesions, by QLF, was the primary outcome regarding effectiveness of MI Paste Plus ® (Table 2). No significant differences between the groups were found at baseline (T1) for lesion area (A), lesion depth (∆ F ), and IFL ( t -test independent groups, P > 0.05). Repeated- measures ANOVA showed no significant changes in lesion area (A) over time or between the groups.