Relationship between Fixed Dental Crowns and Volatile Sulphur Compounds

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the level of halitosis in patients with/without fixed crowns and in addition the influence of various crown parameters on halitosis was also explored. Methods: In total, 96 subjects (fixed crowns = 52; no crowns = 44) participated in the study. The levels volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), methyl mercaptan (CH3SH), and dimethyl sulphide (CH3SCH3) were evaluated with breath samples using gas chromatography and used for classification as presence or absence of halitosis. The periodontal clinical parameters for all the participants as well as the crown parameters for participants with fixed crowns were also evaluated. Cross tabulation, Chi-square test, and one-way analysis of variance tests were used for the statistical analysis and comparisons. Results: Breath samples revealed, 50 (52.1%) participants were suffering from halitosis. Out of VSCs, the level of CH3SCH3 (62.5%) was found to be the most prevalent. Significant correlations were observed between the presence of fixed crowns and oral halitosis (p < 0.001). Statistically significant difference in the concentration of H2S and CH3SH (p < 0.001) and no significance for CH3SCH3 (p = 0.075) between patients with/without fixed crowns was found. The presence of halitosis was more prevalent in the subjects with crown parameters (subgingival margin, over-contoured margin, open-crown margin, over-contoured and under-contoured crowns) considered clinically defective/unacceptable (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Presence of fixed dental crowns significantly contributes to the oral halitosis. Dental crowns with defects significantly impair the hygienic conditions and oral microflora resulting in high prevalence of halitosis.

The Problem of Halitosis in Prosthetic Dentistry, and New Approaches to Its Treatment: A Literature Review

“…Fixed dentures, despite the fact that they are a significantly different in construction comparing to removable dentures may also make it difficult to maintain proper oral hygiene—not only through the retention of food debris and the deposition of dental plaque [ 15 ], but also due to the inaccessibility to daily hygiene procedures and impaired ability of their self-cleaning by saliva [ 18 ]. The values obtained from a study with the Oral Chroma device showed the presence of halitosis in 65.9% of patients with dental crowns, and only in 32.69% without fixed dentures in the oral cavity [ 19 ]. The influence of the position of the crown edge, the marginal integrity, and the contour of the crown on the presence of halitosis was investigated.…”

“…The influence of the position of the crown edge, the marginal integrity, and the contour of the crown on the presence of halitosis was investigated. The parameters found to be defective included the subgingival margin, over-contouring, and crowns with leaking margin; the levels of volatile sulfur compounds were significantly higher in these patients compared to patients with non-defective crown parameters [ 19 ]. Thus, improperly made crowns significantly worsen the hygienic conditions and the microbiota of the oral cavity, resulting in a high frequency of halitosis [ 19 ].…”

“…The parameters found to be defective included the subgingival margin, over-contouring, and crowns with leaking margin; the levels of volatile sulfur compounds were significantly higher in these patients compared to patients with non-defective crown parameters [ 19 ]. Thus, improperly made crowns significantly worsen the hygienic conditions and the microbiota of the oral cavity, resulting in a high frequency of halitosis [ 19 ]. However, it was found that hygienic procedures do not cause significant changes in the oral cavity until the etiological factor—for example, a low-quality fixed denture—is removed [ 18 ].…”