HALITOSIS - AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

Purpose: To summarize the experience in our halitosis clinic, emphasiz ing an interdisciplinary approach. Patients and Methods: Thirty-nine p atients with a primary complaint of halitosis were evaluated. Their he alth was established by a questionnaire, by clinical examination, and by laboratory analysis. Halitosis was evaluated organoleptically by a dentist and an otolaryngologist (odds ratio [OR] = 5.7). The volatile sulfide levels were measured with a portable sulfide monitor (Halimete r; RH-17 series, Interscan, Chatsworth, CA). Results: The patients wer e found to suffer from otolaryngological disorders (26%), dental probl ems (23%), oral discomfort (18%), and gastrointestinal pathology (10%) , or several of the above. In 31% of the patients, however, no clinica l involvement was detected. The salivary flow rates in the patients we re similar to those in healthy controls, whereas their oral Candida ca rrier rate was low (28%). Fifty-seven percent of the patients had obje ctive halitosis by organoleptic evaluation and 61% by Halimeter measur ement. Conclusion:A high percentage of the patients who came to the cl inic with a primary complaint of halitosis did not have a detectable p roblem. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.