Postoperative Assessment of Gustatory Activity Following Surgical Removal of Mandibular Third Molars

Abstract

BACKGROUND The study focused on prospectively determining the incidence and severity of taste changes after surgical removal of mandibular third molar and correlating difficulty index of impaction and incidence of gustatory changes. METHODS 96 patients who required lower third molar extraction were included in the study. Their difficulty of impaction was measured using Pell and Gregory Difficulty Index and their gustatory activity was measured using a spatial taste test and a whole mouth wash test. The tests were carried out using 5 different stimuli, i.e., sweet, salt, bitter, umami and sour, in different concentrations and the subjects were asked to identify the stimuli preoperatively, postoperatively on day 7 and after 1 month.Tastes were scored from 1 - 9 for decreasing and altered taste sensations. RESULTS The results of our study showed that with increased difficulty index, taste sensation was altered. While most patients belonged to the Class II and Class I group as well as position A and B, taste changes were still noted due to difficulty in impaction, especially in the patients belonging to Class III and position C groups. The taste changes felt at POD - 7 were similar and unresolved in the one month follow up. The scores had a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS With a higher difficulty score, gustatory changes are felt due to the increased surgical manipulation required to remove the tooth from its socket. This is indicative of nerve damage during surgical extraction. KEY WORDS Postoperative, Assessment, Gustatory, Mandibular, Third Molar