Evaluation of taste sensation changes in individuals undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment

This study aimed to investigate the possible effects of fixed orthodontic treatment on taste perception and to evaluate changes that may occur during the early stages of treatment. A total of 128 individuals who applied to the Orthodontics Clinic of Biruni University Faculty of Dentistry were included and randomly assigned to the fixed orthodontic treatment group (n=64) or the control group (n=64). Individuals with systemic diseases or medication use that could affect taste perception were excluded. Taste perception was evaluated using nine different solutions representing sweet, salty, sour and bitter tastes. Measurements were performed with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), participants scored each taste between 0 and 10. Assessments were performed in the treatment group before bracket placement and six weeks afterward, and in the control group without any treatment, with a six-week interval between the two measurements. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank, and Pearson Chi-Square tests, with significance set at p<0.05. In the low-dose experimental group, a statistically significant difference was found in sweet taste perception, while in the high-dose group, a significant difference was observed in bitter taste perception between the first and second sessions (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups for all taste types (p>0.05). Fixed orthodontic treatment may cause temporary, limited changes in sweet and bitter taste perception after bracket placement, but it does not significantly affect overall taste. Maintaining good oral hygiene and informing patients about possible temporary taste changes can support treatment compliance.