Evaluation of Oral and Nasal Odor in Patients with and without Cleft Lip and Palate: Preliminary Report

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate oral and nasal halitosis parameters in patients with and without clefts. DESIGN: Randomized and prospective study. Patients with and without clefts were evaluated as to oral and nasal halitosis. SETTING: University of São Paulo, Bauru Dental School and Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, Bauru, Brazil. PATIENTS: Twelve patients with clefts and 12 without clefts were evaluated, and no exclusion criteria were followed. INTERVENTIONS: Nasal and oral halitosis were measured with the use of a portable sulfide monitor during a single visit. RESULTS: One hundred percent of the patients with clefts had altered values for volatile sulfur compounds. Only 33.3% of the patients without clefts had at least one strong value for nasal halimeter measurements, and 58.3% of these patients showed alteration in the nasal values. Statistical evaluation, made using the Mann-Whitney U test, classifying the nasal halimeter values as normal, weak, and strong, showing a statistical significant group difference (p = .003). There was no significant difference in the oral halimeter values between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cleft lip and palate had a tendency to present higher values for the nasal halimeter measurements, when compared with patients without clefts.