Gustatory function after third molar extraction

• Published in: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology and endodontics Vol. 87; no. 4; pp. 419 - 428
• Main Authors: Shafer, David M., Frank, Marion E., Gent, Janneane F., Fischer, Mark E.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: St. Louis, MO Mosby, Inc 01.04.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Anesthesia, Dental - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Citric Acid; Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction; Dentistry; Female; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Humans; Lingual Nerve Injuries; Male; Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Medical sciences; Molar, Third - surgery; Nerve Block - adverse effects; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Prospective Studies; Quinine; Sensory Thresholds; Sodium Chloride; Sucrose; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surveys and Questionnaires; Taste Disorders - etiology; Tooth Extraction - adverse effects; Tooth, Impacted - surgery; Human; Postoperative; Nervous system diseases; Time lag; Third molar tooth; Prospective; Survey; Treatment; Surgery; Complication; Extraction; Neurological disorder; Taste disorder; Gravity
• ISSN: 1079-2104; 1528-395X
• DOI: 10.1016/S1079-2104(99)70240-4

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the severity and time course of taste changes after extraction of all 4 third molars. Study design. Taste function in 17 patients was measured before third molar surgery and at 1 month and 6 months after surgery. Two tests were administered: a whole-mouth, above-threshold test in which subjects sipped, expectorated, and then rated the intensities and identified the taste qualities of various solutions, and a localized test in which subjects rated and identified solutions painted with cotton swabs on different oral sites. Results. Intensity ratings for solutions in the whole-mouth test were reduced by approximately 14% for NaCl, citric acid, and quinine hydrochloride at 1 month after surgery and had not recovered by 6 months after surgery for citric acid ( P < .02). The taste quality of NaCl was identified correctly less frequently after third molar extraction. Perceived taste intensity on discrete areas of the tongue was significantly reduced after surgery ( P < .05). Patients with the most severely impacted molars gave the lowest taste intensity ratings to whole-mouth test solutions at 6 months after surgery ( P < .02). In contrast, taste function in a group of subjects who received only local dental anesthesia was not affected. Conclusions. Gustatory deficits occur after third molar extraction, persist for as long as 6 months after surgery, and appear to be associated with depth of impaction. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 1999;87:419-28)