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 administ
ered: a whole-mouth, above-threshold test in which subjects sipped, expecto
rated, and then rated the intensities and identified the taste qualities of
various solutions, and a localized test in which subjects rated and identi
fied solutions painted with cotton swabs on different oral sites.
Results. intensity ratings for solutions in the whole-mouth test were reduc
ed 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 l
ess frequently after third molar extraction. Perceived taste intensity on d
iscrete areas of the tongue was significantly reduced after surgery (P < .0
5). Patients with the most severely impacted molars gave the lowest taste i
ntensity ratings to whole-mouth test solutions at 6 months after surgery (P
< .02). In contrast taste function in a group of subjects who received onl
y 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 de
pth of impaction.