An observational study in Halitosis and Dentistry, sponsored by Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 25 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-03.
Sponsored by Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital · Observational
The study population will consist of undergraduate dental students enrolled at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Dentistry. A total of 100 students, including 50 first-year and 50 fifth-year dental students, will be included. Eligible participants will be healthy students who meet the study criteria and provide written informed consent. Participants will undergo subjective and objective halitosis assessments, including questionnaires, organoleptic evaluation, volatile sulfur compound measurements, tongue coating assessment, and DMFT index recording.
Halitosis, also known as oral malodor, is a multifactorial condition primarily associated with volatile sulfur compounds produced by bacterial metabolism in the oral cavity. Although previous studies have investigated factors related to halitosis, limited information is available regarding the influence of dental education duration on objective halitosis measurements and associated behavioral and psychological factors.
This study will compare first-year and fifth-year dental students to evaluate whether the duration of dental education is associated with differences in halitosis levels. Objective measurements, including organoleptic assessment and portable digital halitometer measurements of volatile sulfur compounds, will be combined with subjective assessments of halitosis perception, oral hygiene habits, perceived stress levels, tongue coating index, and DMFT index.
The findings of this study may contribute to understanding the relationship between dental education, oral health awareness, lifestyle behaviors, psychological factors, and halitosis among future dental professionals.
93 studies on the registry are indexed under Halitosis; 17 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 100 is above the median of 60 across 13 observational studies indexed under Halitosis.
Browse Halitosis studies →Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital is the lead sponsor of 88 studies on the registry; 19 are open to participants now.
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The study population will consist of undergraduate dental students enrolled at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Dentistry. A total of 100 students, including 50 first-year and 50 fifth-year dental students, will be included in this cross-sectional observational study. Eligible participants will be healthy students who meet the inclusion criteria and provide written informed consent. The study aims to evaluate the relationship between duration of dental education and halitosis by comparing objective and subjective halitosis measurements, including organoleptic assessment, volatile sulfur compound (VSC) measurements using a portable digital halitometer, halitosis perception questionnaires, tongue coating index, DMFT index, and perceived stress levels.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants in this cohort are undergraduate dental students in their first year of dental education at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Dentistry. This cohort represents students at the beginning of their dental education. Participants will undergo halitosis assessment using subjective and objective evaluation methods, including halitosis questionnaire, organoleptic assessment, portable digital halitometer measurement of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), tongue coating index evaluation, and DMFT index recording. Perceived stress levels will also be evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale. No intervention will be applied.
Participants in this cohort are undergraduate dental students in their fifth year of dental education at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Dentistry. This cohort represents students with advanced dental education and clinical training experience. Participants will undergo halitosis assessment using subjective and objective evaluation methods, including halitosis questionnaire, organoleptic assessment, portable digital halitometer measurement of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), tongue coating index evaluation, and DMFT index recording. Perceived stress levels will also be evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale. No intervention will be applied.
Halitosis Level Assessed by Organoleptic Evaluation
Halitosis level will be assessed using the organoleptic evaluation method performed by two trained evaluators. The perceived odor intensity will be scored according to a standardized 0-5 scale: 0 = no odor, 1 = barely noticeable odor, 2 = slight but noticeable odor, 3 = moderate odor, 4 = strong odor, and 5 = extremely strong odor. The mean score of the two evaluators will be recorded as the organoleptic halitosis score. A score of ≥2 will be considered indicative of halitosis.
Time frame: Baseline
Volatile Sulfur Compound (VSC) Levels Measured by Portable Digital Halitometer
Exhaled breath volatile sulfur compound (VSC) levels will be measured using a portable digital halitometer. Three measurements will be obtained from each participant, and the mean value will be recorded in parts per billion (ppb). Values ≥125 ppb will be considered indicative of halitosis.
Time frame: Baseline
Self-Perceived Halitosis Level Assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Participants' self-perception of oral malodor will be evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no perceived halitosis and 10 indicates severe perceived halitosis.
Time frame: Baseline
Perceived Stress Level Assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Participants' perceived stress levels will be evaluated using the Turkish validated version of the Perceived Stress Scale. The scale consists of 8 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 0 to 32. Higher scores indicate higher perceived stress levels.
Time frame: Baseline
Tongue Coating Index (TCI)
Tongue coating will be evaluated visually on the dorsal surface of the tongue using the Tongue Coating Index. Scores range from 0 to 3: 0 = no coating, 1 = coating covering less than one-third of the tongue surface, 2 = coating covering less than two-thirds, and 3 = coating covering more than two-thirds of the tongue surface.
Time frame: Baseline
Dental Caries Experience Assessed by DMFT Index
Dental caries experience will be assessed using the DMFT index, which records the number of decayed (D), missing due to caries (M), and filled (F) teeth. The total DMFT score will be calculated as D + M + F.
Time frame: Baseline
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital