OBJECTIVE: To compare oral and nasal malodor in patients with and without cleft lip and palate (CLP) who had undergone orthodontic therapy. SETTING: University of Cumhuriyet, Sivas, Turkey. PATIENTS: The study included 33 patients. Group 1 was composed of 11 patients with CLP. Measurements were taken while they were undergoing treatment with orthodontic fixed appliances. Group 2 included 11 individuals without CLP; measurements were taken during fixed orthodontic therapy. Group 3 consisted of 11 individuals without CLP who did not receive orthodontic therapy. INTERVENTION: Oral malodor, nasal malodor, Gingival Index, Plaque Index, and probing depths were evaluated in each group. RESULTS: Plaque Index, Gingival Index, and probing depths showed no significant differences between groups 1 and 2. In contrast, oral malodor was significantly different between the two groups (p < .05). Groups 2 and 3 showed differences in gingival and plaque indices but not in probing depths and oral malodor. All healthy nostrils in Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 were significantly different from affected nostrils in the CLP patients. There was significant malodor in affected nostrils when compared with nonaffected nostrils in group 1 (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Oral malodor was increased in patients with CLP. Nasal malodor level was also higher in affected nostrils of the CLP patients compared to nostrils of healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE: To compare oral and nasal malodor in patients with and without cleft lip and palate (CLP) who had undergone orthodontic therapy. SETTING: University of Cumhuriyet, Sivas, Turkey. PATIENTS: The study included 33 patients. Group 1 was composed of 11 patients with CLP. Measurements were taken while they were undergoing treatment with orthodontic fixed appliances. Group 2 included 11 individuals without CLP; measurements were taken during fixed orthodontic therapy. Group 3 consisted of 11 individuals without CLP who did not receive orthodontic therapy. INTERVENTION: Oral malodor, nasal malodor, Gingival Index, Plaque Index, and probing depths were evaluated in each group. RESULTS: Plaque Index, Gingival Index, and probing depths showed no significant differences between groups 1 and 2. In contrast, oral malodor was significantly different between the two groups (p < .05). Groups 2 and 3 showed differences in gingival and plaque indices but not in probing depths and oral malodor. All healthy nostrils in Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 were significantly different from affected nostrils in the CLPpatients. There was significant malodor in affected nostrils when compared with nonaffected nostrils in group 1 (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Oral malodor was increased in patients with CLP. Nasal malodor level was also higher in affected nostrils of the CLPpatients compared to nostrils of healthy subjects.