title: The Role of New Removable Complete Dentures in Stimulated Salivary Flow and Taste Perception.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of replacement of inadequate complete dentures on salivary flow and taste perception in geriatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three patients, 13 males and 20 females, with a mean age of 64.4 years were submitted to stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rate and salivary pH measurements, and sense of taste evaluation. Tests were performed 3 months before complete denture substitution and 3 weeks after denture insertion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean for unstimulated saliva (USS) was 2.1 ml before and 2.7 ml after replacement (p = 0.003). The mean volume of stimulated saliva was 6.3 ml before and 8.2 ml after replacement (p = 0.004). The pH mean of USS was 7.8 ± 0.44 before and 8.02 ± 0.41 after replacement (p = 0.005). No statistically significant difference was determined in the sense of taste before and 3 weeks after complete denture replacement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The replacement of inadequate complete dentures increases saliva flow; however, it does not improve taste perception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, Institute of Science and Technology, Univ Estadual Paulista, São José dos Campos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rubens Nisie
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Tango
authors.affiliation: Nuclear and Energy Research Institute, National Nuclear Energy Commission (IPEN-CNEN/SP), Materials Science and Technology Center (CCTM), Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anelyse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arata
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, Institute of Science and Technology, Univ Estadual Paulista, São José dos Campos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Luiz Souto
authors.initials: ALS
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, Institute of Science and Technology, Univ Estadual Paulista, São José dos Campos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anna K F
authors.initials: AKF
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Lavras, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano Jose
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Stomatology, Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, Institute of Science and Technology, Univ Estadual Paulista, São José dos Campos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaminagakura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003824:Denture, Complete; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012472:Salivation; D013649:Taste
keywords: Saliva; hyposalivation; prosthesis; xerostomy