The Lincoln Dental Caries Study II. The Effect of Acidulated Carbonated Beverages on the Incidence of Dental Caries

Mentally subnormal patients at the Lincoln State School participated in this three-year study on the effect of a daily consumption of carbonated beverages on the incidence of dental caries. In addition to a diet that is similar to that consumed in normal populations, the experimental group at LSS was given 12 oz of carbonated, acidulated beverage daily. This consumption did not produce a statistically significant increase in dental caries rates, except as the scores were analyzed by tooth surfaces. Scores for the buccal surfaces of maxillary anterior teeth and for the buccal and buccolingual surfaces of the mandibular posterior teeth were statistically significant.