Effect of fixed orthodontic appliances on self-assessment and diagnosis of halitosis in undergraduate dental students

• Main Authors: Diego Dantas Lopes dos Santos (Author), João Felipe Besegato (Author), Sâmmea Martins Vieira (Author), Andrea Abi Rached Dantas (Author), Aryvelto Miranda Silva (Author), Alexandre Monteiro da Silva (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0972-124X; 10.4103/jisp.jisp_327_20
• Keywords: dental students; diagnosis; halitosis; orthodontic appliances; self-assessment; Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, Vol 25, Iss 5, Pp 432-437 (2021)

Background: The effects of fixed orthodontic therapy on the occurrence of halitosis are not yet fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fixed orthodontic appliances on self-assessment and diagnosis of halitosis in undergraduate dental students. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two undergraduate dental students were included in this cross-sectional study. Two groups (n = 31 per group) were composed of participants with (study group) or without (control group) fixed orthodontic appliance. Halitosis self-assessment and clinical diagnosis were assessed using a visual analogic scale (VAS) and sulfur volatile compounds (SVCs) assessment, respectively. The subjective (VAS) and objective (SVC) malodor assessments were classified in absence, light, moderate, or severe malodor. Chi-square Pearson test and Spearman's correlation were applied for data analysis, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The use of fixed orthodontic appliances had no effect on self-assessment (P = 0.490) or clinical diagnosis (P = 0.610) of halitosis. Self-assessment was not significantly associated with the diagnosis of halitosis regardless the use of fixed orthodontic appliance (P ≥ 0.737). Male participants showed higher diagnosis of halitosis (P = 0.007). SVC measurements showed the absence of halitosis in 51.6% and 58.1% of participants with or without orthodontic appliances, respectively. Conclusion: The use of fixed orthodontic appliances affected the self-assessment of halitosis but no SVC measurements. It was not verified a correlation between subjective and objective methods to diagnose halitosis in dental students.