Oral Malodor Knowledge Among Myanmar Dental Students and Young Dentists

Ei Ei Aung,Takashi Zaitsu,Yoko Kawaguchi,Akiko Oshiro

doi:10.31487/j.jdoa.2019.01.02

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of Myanmar dental students and young dentists regarding the diagnosis and treatment of oral malodor. Method: Data were collected from a sample of 120 dental students from the University of Dental Medicine and 21 young dentists in Yangon, Myanmar. They were instructed to answer the structural questionnaires regarding oral malodor knowledge, including the clinical perspective. The content of the questionnaire items ranged from the etiology of oral malodor to treatment regimen. Results: Only 8.5% in the dental students’ group and 14.3% in young dentists’ group correctly answered that tongue coating is the most frequent source of oral malodor when the patients had no severe dental and periodontal problems. Nearly half of the subjects reported that Volatile Sulphur Compounds (VSCs) are related to malodor, but only 18.4% correctly answered the question related to the vulnerable condition of VSCs production. And, around 60% of the subjects didn’t know the reliable diagnostic tools for malodor and more than half of the subjects didn’t know clearly about the oral malodor classifications. Regarding the oral malodor treatment, over 90% of the subjects responded tongue cleaning is essential to reduce oral malodor and 97.2% of the subjects answered that they will provide tooth brushing instructions to oral malodor patients. But, over 70% of the subjects incorrectly recommended saline mouthwash for malodor treatment. Overall, both the dental students and young dentists had less knowledge of oral malodor and most of them responded that they need further knowledge on oral malodor diagnosis and treatment. Conclusion: This study showed that the knowledge of Myanmar dental students and young dentists on oral malodor was a scare. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that dental schools are necessary to give greater emphasis on etiology, diagnosis, and proper treatment for oral malodor.

Highlights

Oral malodor is an unpleasant smell coming from one’s breath and known as halitosis in the professional term
This study showed that the knowledge of Myanmar dental students and young dentists on oral malodor was a scare
The significant difference (p

Summary

Introduction

Oral malodor is an unpleasant smell coming from one’s breath and known as halitosis in the professional term. Oral malodor is reported to be the third most frequent reason for people seeking dental care after dental caries and periodontal problems. Most of the adults had been the victims of oral malodor. It is difficult to evaluate oral malodor prevalence, but previous epidemiological studies on various communities have shown that almost 30%-50% of the population suffers from this problem [3,4,5,6,7]. Oral malodor may cause social embarrassment, stress, and negative influence on daily life [8]. Poor oral hygiene, severe periodontal diseases, severe dental caries, and xerostomia are the most frequent association factors for oral malodor production [3, 9, 12,13,14]. Sometimes, oral malodor can be a signal of an individual’s oral hygiene and some systemic health problems. The correct diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management to get patients’ satisfaction with treatment outcomes

Methods

Results

Conclusion