Third Molar Extraction Might Improve Long-Term Taste Function

A study led by University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers has found extracting third molars may improve a patient’s tasting ability. These findings, published in Chemical Senses, challenge previous studies that report adverse effects of wisdom tooth removal on taste.

According to the paper, “Positive Long-Term Effects of Third Molar Extraction on Taste Function,” of the 1,255 patients who underwent chemosensory evaluation at Penn’s Smell and Taste Center, 891 patients underwent third molar extractions. The extraction group outperformed the control group for each of the four tastes, according to Penn Medicine News, and those with extracted third molars experienced a 3% to 10 % improvement in their ability to taste.

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