Melatonin as an adjunctive treatment on dental procedures: A systematic review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether systemic or topical melatonin improves outcomes for patients with oral health conditions or undergoing dental procedures.
Results Summary
Melatonin improved inflammatory responses in periodontal disease, dental surgeries, and mucositis in irradiated head/neck cancer patients, and showed anxiolytic effects in dental procedure patients. Six studies did not demonstrate positive effects, and three showed null effects.
Population
Patients with oral health conditions or undergoing dental procedures, including those with periodontal disease, post-surgical cases, and irradiated head/neck cancer patients.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin administered systemically or topically | decrease | oral health conditions or dental procedures | patients involved with oral health conditions or dental procedures | - | ameliorate | #1 |
melatonin | decrease | inflammatory response | patients with periodontal disease, dental surgeries, and mucositis of head and neck oncologic irradiated patients | - | improved | #2 |
melatonin | decrease | anxiety | patients that were submitted to dental procedures | - | showed anxiolytic potential | #3 |
melatonin | decrease | oral changes | - | - | favored the treatment | #4 |
The systematic review tried to answer the following question: Does the melatonin administered systemically or topically ameliorate patients involved with oral health conditions or dental procedures? The systematic review has been registered in the PROSPERO (2021CRD42021095959). Eligibility criteria included only randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) with at least 10 participants that compared patients that received melatonin as a treatment before and/or after their oral intervention topically or systemically, with control patients. A search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Academic Google databases for articles up to February 2021. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized clinical trials was used and revealed that the studies included presented low risk of bias for the majority of criteria assessed. It was selected 25 articles, of which only six did not demonstrate positive effects and three presented null effects with the use of melatonin. Melatonin has improved the inflammatory response in periodontal disease, dental surgeries, and mucositis of head and neck oncologic irradiated patients. In addition, it showed anxiolytic potential in patients that were submitted to dental procedures. In conclusion, melatonin favored the treatment of oral changes when used topically and systemically.