Table 1. .

Sample Characteristics

	Fixed Appliance (n = 47)	Removable (n = 65)
	G1: Metallic Group (n = 47)	G2: Resin Group (n = 34)	G3: Thermoplastic Group (n = 31)	P Value (G1 to G2)	P Value (G1 to G3)	P Value (G2 to G3)	P Value
Mean age
	15.16	13.16	16.75	.56	.688	.35	.197
	±3 years	± 2 years	± 2 years
Gender
Girls (n)	22	16	17	.571	.517	.278	.548
Boys (n)	25	18	14
Frequency of meals per day
Two to three times	32	19	19	.333	.394	.899	.53
Up to three times	15	15	12
Consumption of carbohydrates
Rare	15	7	6	.016a	.067	.912	.081
Moderated	23	22	20
Excessive	9	5	5
Brushing frequency (per day)
One time	12	7	8	.748	.4	.733	.752
Two times	10	14	9
Three times	25	13	14

^aSignificant P value following χ².