Non-operative anti-caries agents and dental caries increment among adults at high caries risk: a retrospective cohort study

Table 2 Study population characteristics and caries-related factors, by anti-caries treatment provided between baseline and follow-up

Characteristic	Received anti-caries agents never	Received anti-caries agents once	Received anti-caries agents twice or more
Characteristic	N = 1,501	N = 900	N = 323
Patient sex, %
Male	52.6	50.5	46.3
Female	47.4	49.5	53.7
Patient age, %
18–44 years	37.1	38.2	27.2
≥45 years	62.9	61.8	72.8
Patient payer type, %
Private insurance	19.5	17.4	13.6
Public program	20.1	23.7	45.5
Cash	60.4	58.9	40.9
Patient race/ethnicity, %
African American	10.4	8.1	9.6
Asian	13.8	13.8	14.9
Caucasian	45.6	53.3	53.6
Hispanic/Latino	17.0	14.8	14.2
Other or declined to state	13.3	10.0	7.7
Provider type, %
Domestic 4-year program	73.0	82.4	84.5
International 2-year program	27.0	17.6	15.5
Provider year of training, %
Final year	50.6	48.2	45.2
Penultimate year	49.4	51.8	54.8
Radiographic or visible dentin cavitation (baseline), %	45.3	44.7	41.8
Heavy plaque, %	59.1	56.1	58.4
Frequent snacking, %	37.0	36.4	38.7
Fluoride toothpaste, twice daily, %	71.1	73.7	76.2
Adequate saliva flow, %	80.2	81.7	77.6
Lives/works in fluoridated community, %	81.2	79.3	83.5

Percentages listed in Table 2 exclude missing data. Extent of missing values was lower for variables used in analysis (age: 0 %, race/ethnicity: 0 %, provider type: 0 %, provider year of training: 0 %, payer type: 0.3 %, and sex: 0.4 %) than for descriptive caries-risk variables (e.g., 36.5 % for radiographic or visible dentin cavitation)

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