Evaluation of Taste Sensation Changes During Fixed Orthodontic Treatment

Overview

The aim of this study is to determine the changes in taste perception that may occur before and after the initiation of treatment in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. A total of 128 patients from Biruni University Faculty of Dentistry, Orthodontics Clinic, were randomly selected to either a fixed orthodontic treatment group (n=64) or a control group (n=64), Taste sensation was assessed using nine solutions representing different taste modalities (sweet, salty, sour and bitter), with evaluations conducted via a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before treatment and six weeks post-treatment. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test and Pearson Chi-Square test. The study found statistically significant differences in sweet taste perception between the first and second sessions in the low-dose experimental group and in bitter taste perception in the high-dose experimental group (p\<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups across all taste types and time points (p\>0.05). While orthodontic treatment resulted in some changes in sweet and bitter taste perception, no overall significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups. Increased salivary flow rate during treatment and good oral hygiene may help minimize potential effects on taste perception.

This interventional clinical study aimed to investigate whether fixed orthodontic treatment affects taste perception in adolescent patients. A total of 128 participants aged 10 to 19 years were recruited and randomly assigned to either a fixed orthodontic treatment group or a control group. Exclusion criteria included systemic diseases, smoking, medications affecting taste, and salivary gland disorders. Taste perception was assessed using nine standard solutions representing sweet, salty, sour, and bitter tastes at two concentrations each, plus a tasteless solution (distilled water). Evaluations were performed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before treatment and six weeks after treatment initiation. The study received ethical approval from the Biruni University Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2015-KAEK-79-23-10). Informed consent was obtained from all participants or their guardians. Statistical analyses revealed significant intra-group differences in sweet and bitter taste perceptions in the experimental group, while no significant inter-group differences were found across time points. These findings suggest that fixed orthodontic treatment may cause temporary changes in certain taste perceptions, which could be mitigated by increased salivary flow and good oral hygiene practices.