Table 2.

Comparison of linear and non-linear fractional polynomial regression models for dental caries

	Degree of freedom	Deviance	Res. SD	Deviance difference	p values	Powers
Prevalence of dental caries (% d3mft > 0)
Linear	1	2066.51	7.43	1.75	0.627	1
m = 1	2	2066.33	7.43	1.57	0.46	0.5
m = 2	4	2064.76	7.42	–	–	− 2, − 1
Mean dmft score (Decayed, missing, filled teeth)
Linear	1	192.23	0.33	1.57	0.669	1
m = 1	2	192.23	0.33	1.57	0.461	1
m = 2	4	190.66	0.33	–	–	− 2, − 1