Sweet and Salt Threshold Detection among Dental Implant Patients in Relation to Cognition Status and Salivary Acetylcholinesterase

Abstract

Background: Wearing a dental implant may affect gustatory function, an essential element of health in older adults that can affect cognition status. This study aimed to assess the sweet and salt taste threshold detection among dental implant patients in relation to cognition status and salivary Acetylcholinesterase compared with partially edentulous and fully dentate patients matching in age and gender. Materials and methods: The study comprised 90 dental implant patients between the ages of 50 and 60 compared with 90 partially edentulous and 90 fully dentate individuals who were age and gender-matched. The participants' cognition status was tested using the Self-Administered Gero-cognitive Examination (SAGE) test, which classified them into poor and good. A two-alternative forced-choice question was used to establish taste threshold sensitivity, with concentrations presented in ascending order. One chemical was investigated for each taste quality (salt and sweet), and each component was delivered at five different concentrations. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent test (ELISA) kit measured salivary Acetylcholinesterase. Spss 22 Chicago Illionis USA was used to examine the data. Results: There was a significant association between sweet and salt taste thresholds and the patient's groups, as the higher patient occurrence concerning the lowest taste threshold was found for the dentate patients. In comparison, the higher patient occurrence for the highest taste threshold was found for the partially edentulous patients. Data analysis showed a significant association between cognitive status and sweet and salt taste threshold for the implant patient group, as the percentage of patients with the lowest taste threshold was higher for good cognitive status; the same result was found concerning partially edentulous and fully dentate patients; however, the association was not significant. The results revealed that the mean value of salivary Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was higher among the fully dentate group, followed by implant. Then, the partially edentulous groups with statistically insignificant differences for both poor and good cognitive status groups. On the other hand, when comparing the poor and good cognitive status groups, results revealed that the mean value of salivary Acetylcholinesterase was higher among the good than the poor groups, with statistically significant differences among all sample groups. Conclusion: Within the limitation of this investigation, it was confirmed that taste threshold detection is connected with missing teeth and cognition status. The findings show a complicated interplay of several factors that affect gustatory acuity, including oral health and cognition status. Keywords: Threshold, Dental Implant Patients, Salivary Acetylcholinesterase