Abstract
Purpose: This study examined influences of thickness and materials of experimental palatal plates on gustatory response.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the subjects were twenty non-smoking adults (11 males and 9 females) with intact dentition. Three kinds of experimental palatal plate covering their whole hard palates were made: 1.5 R plate (a resin plate with 1.5 mm thickness), 1.5 M plate (a metal plate with 1.5 mm thickness), and 0.5 M plate (a metal plate with 0.5 mm thickness). First, responses to saltor bitter taste were investigated in the gustatory test by the whole mouth method and the chewing method, with and without each plate. Then, the masticatory performance per minute was investigated with and without each plate.
Results: 1. There was no significant difference in the gustatory tests and the masticatory performance between the 1.5 R plate and 1.5 M plate. 2. In the whole mouth method, only for bitter taste, the threshold of judgment of the 0.5 M plate was significantly different from that of the 1.5 R plate or 1.5 M plate. 3. In the chewing method, for both salt and bitter tastes, the threshold of judgment of the 0.5 M plate was significantly different from that of the 1.5 R plate or 1.5 M plate. 4. The masticatory performance of the 0.5 M plate was significantly different from that of the 1.5 R plate or 1.5 M plate.
Conclusions: It is suggested that thinner metal palatal plates are effective for gustatory response.
