The Effect of Food Hardness on the Development of Dental Caries in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Table 2

Histopathological carious lesions in the mandibular molars of diabetic rats fed on a pelletized or powdered diet.

	Control (nondiabetic)		Diabetic
Groups	Pelletized diet	Powdered diet	Pelletized diet	Powdered diet
	(𝑛=5)	(𝑛=5)	(𝑛=5)	(𝑛=5)
Carious lesion	1/30 (3.3%)	2/30 (6.7%)	30/30 (100%)**	30/30 (100%)^**††
Slight	1 (3.3%)	2 (6.7%)	2 (6.7%)	0
Mild	0	0	8 (26.7%)	2 (6.7%)
Moderate	0	0	13 (43.3%)	5 (16.7%)
Severe	0	0	7 (23.3%)	23 (76.7%)

Significant difference from the control group (∗∗P < 0.01).
Significant difference from the diabetes-pelletized diet group (††P < 0.01).