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Clinical Trial
. 2024 Apr 1;28(4):237.
doi: 10.1007/s00784-024-05626-1.

Change in taste sensation after orthognathic surgery

Yagmur Malkoc  1 , Serap Gulsever  2 , Sina Uckan  2
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Change in taste sensation after orthognathic surgery

Yagmur Malkoc et al. Clin Oral Investig. .

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of orthognathic surgery on taste sensation.

Materials and methods: Thirty-five patients scheduled to undergo Le Fort I osteotomy (LFIO), sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO), and bimaxillary surgery (BMS) were evaluated by administering localized and whole-mouth taste tests preoperatively and postoperatively at months 1, 3, and 6. The patients were asked to identify the quality of four basic tastes applied to six locations on the palate and tongue and to rate the taste intensities they perceived. Taste recognition thresholds and taste intesity scores were evaluted according to operation groups and follow-ups.

Results: There were significant decreases in the quinine HCl recognition thresholds at the postoperative follow-ups compared to the preoperative in LFIO patients (p = 0.043). There were significant decreases in sucrose taste intensity scores in the right posterolateral part of the tongue at months 3 and 6 compared to preoperative in SSRO patients (p = 0.046), and significant increases in quinine HCL taste intensity scores in the right and left anterior parts of the tongue at month 6 compared to preoperative in LFIO patients (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Taste perception is affected due to potential damage to the chemosensory nerves during orthognathic surgical procedures. Generally, non-significant alterations have been observed in taste perception after orthognathic surgery, except for significant alterations in bitter and sweet taste perceptions.

Clinical relevance: Maxillofacial surgeons should be aware of taste perception change after orthognathic surgery procedures and patients should be informed accordingly.

The trial registration number (trn): NCT06103422/Date of registration: 10.17.2023 (retrospectively registered).

Keywords: Gustation; Le Fort I Osteotomy; Orthognathic surgery; Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy; Taste sense.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The distribution of the mean taste recognition thresholds for quinine HCl determined by whole mouth taste test
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The distribution of the mean taste intensity scores of the right posterolateral region of the tongue for sucrose determined by localized taste test
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The distribution of the mean taste intensity scores of the right anterior region of the tongue for quinine HCl determined by localized taste test
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The distribution of the mean taste intensity scores of the left anterior region of the tongue for quinine HCl determined by localized taste test
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