IADR Abstract Archives
Preliminary Results of Objective and Subjective Diagnostic Methods in Intraoral Halitosis
Objectives: Halitosis, affecting 40% of the population, is caused by volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) produced by oral bacteria. This condition can impact social and emotional well-being, requiring accurate diagnostic methods. The gold standard, organoleptic measurement, is subjective and unpleasant, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), not previously used for halitosis, offers a more objective alternative.
To compare the diagnostic accuracy of various index tests (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, total VSC, and self-reported halitosis) against organoleptic measurement as the reference standard.
Methods: This prospective diagnostic accuracy study was part of a randomized controlled trial. The inclusion criterion was the presence of intraoral halitosis. Sequential sampling was used, with index tests and the reference standard performed on all participants. Optimal threshold values were determined using the Youden index, and diagnostic accuracy was assessed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each test.
Results: Diagnostic accuracy varied between tests. Based on data from eleven participants, self-reported halitosis showed a sensitivity and specificity of 1.0 (95% CI: 0.72–1.0), while hydrogen sulfide showed a sensitivity of 1.0 (95% CI: 0.72–1.0) and specificity of 0.5 (95% CI: 0.18–0.82).
Conclusions: Our findings indicate that self-reported halitosis and hydrogen sulfide are reliable indicators for diagnosing intraoral halitosis. Self-reported halitosis is particularly useful for dentists due to its accessibility, while GC-MS offers precise measurements for research. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results and refine diagnostic thresholds.
To compare the diagnostic accuracy of various index tests (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, total VSC, and self-reported halitosis) against organoleptic measurement as the reference standard.
Methods: This prospective diagnostic accuracy study was part of a randomized controlled trial. The inclusion criterion was the presence of intraoral halitosis. Sequential sampling was used, with index tests and the reference standard performed on all participants. Optimal threshold values were determined using the Youden index, and diagnostic accuracy was assessed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each test.
Results: Diagnostic accuracy varied between tests. Based on data from eleven participants, self-reported halitosis showed a sensitivity and specificity of 1.0 (95% CI: 0.72–1.0), while hydrogen sulfide showed a sensitivity of 1.0 (95% CI: 0.72–1.0) and specificity of 0.5 (95% CI: 0.18–0.82).
Conclusions: Our findings indicate that self-reported halitosis and hydrogen sulfide are reliable indicators for diagnosing intraoral halitosis. Self-reported halitosis is particularly useful for dentists due to its accessibility, while GC-MS offers precise measurements for research. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results and refine diagnostic thresholds.