Characteristics and treatment outcome of patients with halitosis at a suburban health facility

Abstract

Objective:  To investigate the demography, intraoral features and treatment outcome of halitosis in a suburban clinical setting. Patients and Methods:  Prospective observational study, involving consecutive and consenting patients with complaints of halitosis in Eden dental clinic, Uselu between January 2006 and December 2008.  Data of interest were demography, type of halitosis, intraoral characteristics and treatment outcome. Data analysis was done using Epi-Info version 3.3.  Results: A total of 41 patients was involved in this study. The female: male ratio was 2.2:1 and 60-69 year age group constituted 19.5%.  Student and housewives made up 39% of the group. About one-third (34.1%) had the symptom for 24-35 months.  Sufferers were made aware of symptom by friends (31.7%) and 24.4% spouse. Delusional halitosis accounted for only 7.3% of the cases. Oral hygiene was fair in 68.3%, retention index was 3 for 43.9%, 43.9% had one carious tooth, 39% had single missing tooth, 58.5% had prosthesis, and 70.8% had restorations. Majority (51.2%) had scaling and polishing, replacement of prosthesis and restoration as the treatment modality. The treatment outcome was satisfactory for 90.2% and unsatisfactory 9.8%. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the majority of patients with a primary complaint of halitosis were elderly females. Also most of our patients had satisfactory treatment outcome.