Effect of Periodontal Treatment on Tongue Coating and Smell Function

NCT07326319 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: BatmanU-PERİO-01-2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 108
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the effect of periodontal treatment on olfactory function in patients with periodontitis by comparing pre- and post-treatment periodontal indices, Winkel tongue coating scores, and Sniffin' Sticks TDI components.

Conditions

Periodontitis; Tongue Coating; Olfactory Dysfunction

Keywords

Periodontitis; Periodontal Treatment; Tongue Coating

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Olfactory Function (TDI Score) Following Periodontal Treatmen

  The primary outcome of this study is the change in olfactory function following non-surgical periodontal treatment. Olfactory function is assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks Test Battery, which consists of three subtests: odor threshold, odor discrimination, and odor identification. The sum of these three subtests yields the TDI score, with a total score ranging from 1 to 48. Higher TDI scores indicate better olfactory function. Measurements are performed at baseline, prior to periodontal treatment, and three days after completion of the final treatment session in order to evaluate short-term changes in olfactory function attributable to periodontal therapy. This pre-post comparison allows each participant to serve as their own control.

  Time Frame: Baseline (before periodontal treatment) and 3 days after the final treatment session

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Tongue Coating Index Score

  Baseline (pre-treatment) and 8 weeks after completion of periodontal treatment

Study Arms (1)

Periodontal Treatment Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group receive standard non-surgical periodontal treatment, including scaling and root planing. Clinical periodontal parameters (Plaque Index, Gingival Bleeding Index, Probing Pocket Depth, Clinical Attachment Loss), tongue coating (Winkel Tongue Coating Index), and olfactory function (Sniffin' Sticks TDI score) are measured before treatment (baseline) and three days after the final treatment session. Each participant serves as their own control for pre- and post-treatment comparisons.

Procedure: Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment (Scaling and Root Planing

Interventions

Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment (Scaling and Root Planing PROCEDURE

Participants receive standard non-surgical periodontal treatment, including scaling and root planing of all teeth except third molars. Clinical periodontal parameters-including Plaque Index, Gingival Bleeding Index, Probing Pocket Depth, and Clinical Attachment Loss-are recorded before treatment and three days after the final session. Tongue coating is assessed using the Winkel Tongue Coating Index, and olfactory function is evaluated using the Sniffin' Sticks TDI score. Each participant serves as their own control for pre- and post-treatment comparisons.

Periodontal Treatment Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults with a clinical diagnosis of periodontitis
• At least two teeth with probing pocket depth (PPD) ≥ 5 mm
• Alveolar bone loss visible on full-mouth radiographs
• Non-smokers
• Ability to provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Current smokers
• Periodontal treatment within the past 6 months
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Antibiotic use within the past 3 months
• Systemic diseases or conditions known to affect olfactory function

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Batman University: lead

Study Sites (2)

batman University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology

Batman, Batman City, 72000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

batman University Faculty of Dentistry,

Batman, Batman City, 72000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Periodontitis

Interventions

Tooth Exfoliation; Root Planing

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Periodontal Diseases; Mouth Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dental Physiological Phenomena; Digestive System and Oral Physiological Phenomena; Dental Scaling; Dental Prophylaxis; Periodontics; Dentistry; Subgingival Curettage; Preventive Dentistry

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: No parties are masked in this study; it is an open-label trial.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant professor

Model Details: This is a single-arm, pre-post interventional study designed to evaluate the effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment on tongue coating and olfactory function in patients with periodontitis. All participants receive the same standardized periodontal therapy, and assessments are conducted before treatment (baseline) and three days after the final treatment session. Clinical periodontal parameters (Plaque Index, Gingival Bleeding Index, Probing Pocket Depth, Clinical Attachment Loss), tongue coating (Winkel Tongue Coating Index), and olfactory function (Sniffin' Sticks TDI score) are measured at both time points. No randomization or blinding is applied, as all participants receive the same intervention, and each patient serves as their own control.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 3, 2025
• First Posted: January 8, 2026
• Study Start: December 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 3, 2025
• Study Completion: December 4, 2025
• Last Updated: January 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (2)