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Overcoming altered taste sensation in complete denture wearers

A. D. Steas, DDS a
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Clinical applications and the literature ~3 suggest that

wearing complete dentures may affect the appreciation
of texture of food, which may be interpreted as an alter-
ation of taste ("can't taste food"). One of the causes of
this problem could be the overpolished palatal surface
of the maxillary denture. This article suggests a proce-
dure for modifying the palatal surface of the maxillary
denture to stimulate the tongue taste buds.
The advantages of this procedure are (1) that there is
practically no increase in thickness of the acrylic resin den-
ture base material, (2) calculus may not form on the pala-
tal surface of the denture base, (3) the procedure is simple,
quick, and inexpensive, and (4) it can be easily altered (pol-
ished out) aW time if it is objectionable to the patient.
PROCEDURE
1. During the final wax up of the maxillary denture,
Fig. 1. Application of wax foil.
cover the palatal surface with a thin layer of stippled
wax (SU flexible wax, No. 62-150-01-4 Schuter-
D e n t a t u m , , Germany). new complete dentures and experienced a return ofsa~-
2. Use a vacuum machine to adapt the wax to the pala- isfactory taste sensation.
tal surface (Fig. 1).
3. Complete the remaining routine laboratory and clini- REFERENCES
cal procedures. 1. Boucher CO, Hickey JC, Zarb CA. Prosthodontic treatment tor edentu-
lous patients. 7th Ed. St Louis: CV Mosby, 1975:25.
This procedure has been used by the author for the 2. Maffeis ER, Silva Netto CR. Factors that alter taste perception [Portugese].
past 5 years in the fabrication of complete dentures in Rev. Faculta-Odontol Lins1990;3:28-32.
13 edentulous patients (average age 65 years, four men 3. Renner RP. Complete dentures. A guide for patient treatment. New York:
Masson Publishing USA Inc, 1981:30.
and nine women) who complained of a loss of taste sen-
sation. Twelve of these patients were satisfied with their Reprint requests to:
DR. A. D. STEAS
199 Vas. OLGA5
546-46 THESSALONIK/
GREECE
Presented at the First Balcan Dental Congress, Thessaloniki, Greece,
March 1996. Copyright © 1997 by The Editorial Council of The journal of Prosthetic Den-
~Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Dental School. tistry.
J Prosthet Dent 1997;77:453. 0022-3913/97/$5,00+0. 10/4/80216

Correction
In the January issue of The Journal, in the article Tooth intrusion in #~plant-assistedprostheses (by
Sheets and Earthman; 77:39-45), Figure 10 and the accompanying legend should be Figure 12, and
Figure 12 and the accompanying legend should be Figure 10.

APRIL 1997 THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENi'f|STR¥ 453