Using a portable sulfide monitor as a motivational tool: a clinical study.
OBJECTIVE
Bad breath has a significant impact on daily life of those who suffer from it. Oral malodor may rank only behind dental caries and periodontal disease as the cause of patient's visit to dentist. An aim of this study was to use a portable sulfide monitor as a motivational tool for encouraging the patients towards the better oral hygiene by correlating the plaque scores with sulfide monitor scores, and comparing the sulfide monitor scores before and after complete prophylaxis and 3 months after patient motivation.


METHODS
30 patients with chronic periodontitis, having chief complaint of oral malodor participated in this study. At first visit, the plaque scores (P1) and sulfide monitor scores before (BCR1) and after complete oral prophylaxis (BCR2) were taken. Then the patients were motivated towards the better oral hygiene. After 3 months, plaque scores (P2) and sulfide monitor scores (BCR3) were recorded again.


METHODS
It was done using SPSS (student package software for statistical analysis). Paired sample test was performed.


RESULTS
Statistically significant reduction in sulfide monitor scores was reported after the complete oral prophylaxis and 3 months after patient motivation. Plaque scores were significantly reduced after a period of 3 months. Plaque scores and breathchecker scores were positively correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
An intensity of the oral malodor was positively correlated with the plaque scores. The portable sulfide monitor was efficacious in motivating the patients towards the better oral hygiene.
Department of Periodontology & Oral Implantology, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Ferozepur, Punjab, India.
Ranjit Singh
RS
Uppal
Ranjan
R
Malhotra
Vishakha
V
Grover
Deepak
D
Grover
D001944:Breath Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006209:Halitosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D016745:Root Planing / Q000379:methods; D012648:Self Care; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis*; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000379:methods; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
D013440:Sulfides; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds