Sensibility and taste alterations after impacted lower third molar extractions. A prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the incidence, severity and duration of lingual tactile and gustatory function impairments after lower third molar removal. Study Design: Prospective cohort study with intra-subject measures of 16 patients undergoing lower third molar extractions. Sensibility and gustatory functions were evaluated in each subject preoperatively, one week and one month after the extraction, using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments and 5 different concentrations of NaCl, respectively. Additionally, all patients filled a questionnaire to assess subjective perceptions. Results: Although patients did not perceive any sensibility impairments, a statistically significant decrease was detected when Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. This alteration was present at one week after the surgical procedure and fully recovered one month after the extraction. There were no variations regarding the gustatory function. Conclusions: Lower third molar removal under local anesthesia may cause light lingual sensibility impairment. Most of these alterations remain undetected to patients. These lingual nerve injuries are present one week after the extraction and recover one month after surgery. The taste seems to remain unaffected after these procedures. Key words:Lingual nerve, third molar, nerve injury, paresthesia, surgical extraction

Intra‐oral trigeminal‐mediated sensations influencing taste perception: A systematic review

“…As parameters of textural properties of foods monitored by periodontal innervation contribute to taste perception, dental status should then be taken into account when discussing the impact of trigeminal sensations on taste perception. The literature review based on aqueous solution testing indicates that lower third molar removal has no effect on NaCl taste detection threshold but can affect basic taste recognition thresholds of up to 34% of patients in the short term . These findings contrast with a previous study based on 15‐ to 28‐years‐old subjects showing that taste intensity ratings for NaCl and citric acid were significantly reduced up to 6 months after maxillary and mandibular thirds molars removal .…”

“…No change on NaCl taste detection threshold was observed either one week or one month after single tooth (lower third molar) removal . Ten days after lower third molar removal, taste recognition thresholds were increased by 38.4% .…”

“…After duplicates removal, abstract article record and backward searching yielded 169 articles. After full‐text record, a total of 111 articles remained for complete data extraction . Among them, we identified 23 studies as having a controlled protocol (including two studies with a randomisation process .…”

“…Fifteen studies pertained to the effects of addition of capsaicin, menthol or CO2 on taste (Table ). Taste and dental deafferentation were assessed within 4 studies (Table ). The effects of chronic painful conditions such as idiopathic burning mouth syndrome (iBMS) and oral lichen planus were investigated within 9 studies (Table ).…”

Frequency of Lingual Nerve Injury after the Removal of Impacted Mandibular Third Molar

“…Injury of somatosensory branches supplied by the trigeminal nerve is the common risk associated with removal of third molar. Main branches of trigeminal nerve on risk are inferior alveolar nerves and lingual nerve 4 . Contributing factors of complications of this surgical procedure are medical history, age, old age, use of oral contraceptives, smoking, pericoronitis, poor hygiene, type of impaction, contact of lingual nerve and inferior alveolar nerve with third molar, anesthetic technique , surgeon's experience, technique used for procedure, duration of procedure, use f preoperative antibiotics and intra socket medication 5 .…”