AHalimeteris an instrument for measurement of the level ofvolatile sulfur compounds(VSCs) in the mouth.
Halimeter was introduced in the early 1990s as an adjunct method for determininghalitosis(bad breath, oral malodor) levels, alongside human assessment ofodorlevels (the latter is considered thegold standard). The instrument measures parts per billion levels ofhydrogen sulfideand, to a lesser extent,methyl mercaptan,two gases which were previously shown to be associated with bad breath using gas chromatograph by Dr.Joseph Tonzetichin the late 1960s.
The Halimeter is manufactured by Interscan Corp. inCalifornia,and based on their earlier model 1170 portable sulfide monitor. This was the model used in the two original studies.[1][2]These studies, conducted for the first time by Dr.Mel Rosenberg,showed a significant correlation between monitor levels and oral malodor scores. The small size, simplicity of use, and price (relative togas chromatograph) of the Halimeter made it popular amongdentistsseeking to diagnose and treat bad breath, as well as scientific researchers. Much of the published research on bad breath over the past dozen years has employed this instrument. Theelectrochemicalsensoris sensitive toalcoholvapors, and requires recalibration over time. The Halimeter has been the only VSC monitor for the diagnosis of halitosis for years, but now that its patent has expired, it faces competition from othersulfurmonitors recently introduced into the marketplace.
More recently, the portable gas chromatograph, "OralChroma"has been recommended in the diagnosis of halitosis,[3]as the Halimeter does not detectdimethyl sulfide,which is thought by some to be elevated inextraoral causes of halitosis.[4]The OralChroma detects dimethyl sulfide in a semi objective manner, and hence is able to differentiate between oral malodor (intraoral halitosis) and extra-oral halitosis.[3]The halimeter is therefore not indicated if extra-oral halitosis is suspected (its use will only be able to rule out intra-oral halitosis), but is useful for diagnosis and clinical monitoring of intra-oral halitosis.
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editReferences
edit- ^Rosenberg, M.; Kulkarni, G. V.; Bosy, A.; McCulloch, C. A. (November 1991). "Reproducibility and sensitivity of oral malodor measurements with a portable sulphide monitor".J. Dent. Res.70(11): 1436–40.CiteSeerX10.1.1.505.3372.doi:10.1177/00220345910700110801.PMID1960254.
- ^Rosenberg, M.; Septon, I.; Eli, I.; Bar-Ness, R.; Gelernter, I.; Brenner, S.; Gabbay, J. (August 1991). "Halitosis measurement by an industrial sulphide monitor".J. Periodontol.62(8): 487–9.doi:10.1902/jop.1991.62.8.487.PMID1920015.
- ^abTangerman, A; Winkel, EG (Mar 2008). "The portable gas chromatograph OralChroma™: a method of choice to detect oral and extra-oral halitosis".Journal of Breath Research.2(1): 017010.doi:10.1088/1752-7155/2/1/017010.PMID21386154.
- ^Tangerman, A; Winkel, EG (Sep 2007). "Intra- and extra-oral halitosis: finding of a new form of extra-oral blood-borne halitosis caused by dimethyl sulphide".Journal of Clinical Periodontology.34(9): 748–55.doi:10.1111/j.1600-051X.2007.01116.x.PMID17716310.