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Characteristics of 2000 patients who visited a halitosis clinic
Author(s) -
Quirynen Marc,
Dadamio Jesica,
Van den Velde Sandra,
De Smit Menke,
Dekeyser Christel,
Van Tornout Marie,
Vandekerckhove Betty
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.2009.01478.x
Subject(s) - medicine , gingivitis , dentistry , etiology , periodontitis , nose , throat , tongue , dermatology , surgery , pathology
Aims: The aim of this paper was to analyse the aetiology and characteristics of 2000 patients who visited a multidisciplinary bad breath clinic in Leuven, Belgium and to correlate organoleptic ratings with portable device measurements. Materials and Methods: The characteristics and aetiology of breath malodour of two thousand consecutive patients who visited a halitosis consultation were explored by means of a standard questionnaire and a clinical examination, including organoleptic scores provided by a trained and calibrated judge, and a portable bad breath detector (Halimeter ® ). Results: Most patients came without referral and had complaints for several years (mean: 7 years, SD: 8 years). For 76% of the patients, an oral cause was found [tongue coating (43%), gingivitis/periodontitis (11%) or a combination of the two (18%)]. Pseudo‐halitosis/halitophobia was diagnosed in 16% of the cases; and ear, nose and throat/extra‐oral causes were found in 4% of the patients. Most patients had an organoleptic score <3 and a Halimeter ® value <240 p.p.b. Conclusions: Even though it was observed that halitosis has a predominantly oral origin, a multidisciplinary approach remains necessary to identify ear, nose and throat or extra‐oral pathologies and/or pseudo‐halitosis/halitophobia.