The Effects of Zinc-Containing Mouthwashes on the Force Degradation of Orthodontic Elastomeric Chains: An In Vitro Study

Table 5

Descriptive statistics and comparison of the force level between Elasto-Force and Super Elasto-Force elastomeric chains.

Media	Time	EF	SEF	Comparison
		Mean ± SD (gm)	Mean ± SD (gm)	Mean difference (gm)	t-test	value
Distilled water	1 day	182.5 ± 5.40	199 ± 5.16	−16.5	−6.983	≤0.001
	1 week	157 ± 4.21	171 ± 4.74	−14	−7.225	≤0.001
	3 Weeks	130.5 ± 3.69	136 ± 3.94	−5.5	−3.220	0.005
	6 Weeks	105.5 ± 3.69	111 ± 5.16	−4.5	0.22	0.013
	8 Weeks	91 ± 3.94	95 ± 4.08	−4	−0.194	0.039
SmartMouth	1 day	182.5 ± 5.4	199 ± 5.16	−16.5	−6.983	≤0.001
	1 week	153.5 ± 4.74	169.5 ± 4.38	−16	−7.838	≤0.001
	3 Weeks	126.5 ± 3.37	131 ± 4.6	−4.5	−2.496	0.022
	6 Weeks	106.5 ± 4.12	109 ± 4.6	−2.5	−1.282	0.216
	8 Weeks	89.5 ± 3.69	94 ± 3.16	−4.5	−2.929	0.009
Halita	1 day	182.5 ± 5.4	199 ± 5.16	−16.5	−6.983	≤0.001
	1 week	152.5 ± 4.25	169 ± 3.94	−16.5	−9.000	≤0.001
	3 Weeks	117 ± 4.22	121 ± 3.94	−4	−2.191	0.042
	6 Weeks	96.5 ± 4.74	98.5 ± 5.8	−2	−0.844	0.410
	8 Weeks	85.5 ± 3.67	89.5 ± 4.38	−4	−2.209	0.040
Breath Rx	1 day	182.5 ± 5.4	199 ± 5.16	−16.5	−6.983	≤0.001
	1 week	145.5 ± 4.97	165.5 ± 5.99	−20	−8.127	≤0.001
	3 Weeks	110 ± 3.33	112 ± 3.53	−2.5	−1.627	0.121
	6 Weeks	90.5 ± 3.69	91 ± 4.59	−0.5	−0.268	0.791
	8 Weeks	77 ± 3.5	78 ± 4.22	−1	−0.577	0.571
Listerine Total Care Zero	1 day	182.5 ± 5.4	199 ± 5.16	−16.5	−6.983	≤0.001
	1 week	154 ± 4.59	166 ± 3.94	−12	−6.267	≤0.001
	3 Weeks	115.5 ± 3.69	121.5 ± 5.3	−6	−2.939	0.009
	6 Weeks	94 ± 3.94	98 ± 3.5	−4	−2.400	0.027
	8 Weeks	78 ± 4.22	83 ± 4.83	−5	−2.466	0.024

Significance at  < 0.05; SD: standard deviation; EF: Elasto-Force; SEF: Super Elasto-force.