Objectives: Oral malodor is a common condition which can affect most of the adult population. Organoleptic method has been widely used for the diagnosis of oral malodor in the clinical field because of its simplicity, but has limitations with lack of objectivity and reliability. We developed Kim's new organoleptic method using a gas tight syringe to overcome this limitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical utility of this method by analyzing the correlations between the organoleptic score by new method and the data from the portable sulfide monitor measurement and gas chromatographic analysis in the same subjects. Methods: Total 52 subjects (20 males and 32 females; mean age 35.6 °¾12.8) who visited the Oral Malodor Clinic of Seoul National University Dental Hospital were recruited. We recorded the organoleptic score and measured the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) using portable sulfide monitor (Halimeter^TM), and gas chromatography. The new organoleptic method was performed using a gas tight syringe and a paper cup connected with a plastic straw. Results: The organoleptic score by new method showed significant positive correlations with the total VSC concentrations measured by gas chromatography (r=0.790, p<0.01), and portable sulfide monitor (r=0.822, p<0.01). There were significant positive correlations between the organoleptic score by new method and the concentration of H₂S (r=0.776, p<0.01), CH₃SH (r=0.715, p<0.01), and (CH₃)₂S (r=0.674, p<0.01) measured by gas chromatography. Conclusions: Our data shows that the new organoleptic method can be used as a valuable tool for the measurement of oral malodor in the clinical field.

Back to the Diagnostic Systems Program
Back to the 81st General Session of the International Association for Dental Research (June 25-28, 2003)

Top Level Search