Malkoc Y, Gulsever S, Uckan S. Change in taste sensation after orthognathic surgery. Clin Oral Investig 2024; 28: 237.

Significant alterations in bitter and sweet taste perceptions after orthognathic surgery.

This study evaluated the effect of orthognathic surgery on taste sensation. Thirty-five patients, scheduled to undergo Le Fort I osteotomy (LFIO), sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and bimaxillary surgery (BMS), were evaluated by administering localised 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. There were significant decreases in the quinine HCl recognition thresholds at the postoperative follow-ups compared to the preoperative in LFIO patients. 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 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.