The influence of complete dentures upon taste perception

Abstract

Abstract 1. Taste, as we ordinarily think of it, is dependent upon all our special senses. 2. Without the sense of smell we have only our basic tastes, namely, sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. 3. In addition, taste perception is influenced by the age, health, attitude, or hunger of the individual. 4. The sense of touch and temperature are also closely allied with the sense of taste. 5. There is a much wider distribution of taste buds in the fetus, infant, and children than in the adult. Our sense of taste diminishes, therefore, as we grow older. 6. There is a gradual shift of taste from the tip of the tongue to the region of the circumvallate papillae. Our sense of taste of sweet and salt diminishes, and the sour is more pronounced. 7. Complete loss of taste, or ageusia, is known to accompany hysterical and other abnormal nervous states. It may be temporary, or, in cases of certain lesions, the sense of taste may be permanently destroyed. 8. The sense of taste may be interfered with or even interrupted by the interjection of an outside stimulus such as a denture or dentures. 9. Pressure or pain acting as a counterirritant may interrupt the sense of taste. 10. Mastication of food on the anterior teeth or undermastication of food may preclude the actual penetration of the material or food in solution into the taste pore.