It is evident that the confocal laser scanning microscope is a very useful tool to repeatedly observe inside the FP because it is possible to do so noninvasively.5,13 Furthermore, the same FP could be repeatedly observed as a reference papilla if the shape of the FP or arrangement of taste buds were characteristic.13 Recently, we reported the degeneration process of taste buds of reference papillae using confocal laser scanning microscopy. As a result, it was clarified that all taste buds were degenerated and disappeared around 50 days after severing the nerve.6 However, it was very difficult to follow the same FP during the regeneration process because the taste buds inside the FP disappeared and their shape was changed due to atrophy. In the present study, an average of 10 FP in the midlateral region of the tongue per patient were continuously observed using confocal laser microscopy for 12 to 24 months after severing the CTN. As a result, it was clarified that regenerated taste buds were first observed 5 to 8 months after surgery in 5 of 7 cases. Among them, regenerated taste buds in combination with complete recovery of the taste function were detected in 2 (28.6%, group 1) of 7 patients, and the number of regenerated taste buds gradually increased until 2 years after surgery. This is the first report to elucidate the regeneration process of fungiform taste buds after severing the CTN in humans.