title: Outcomes of topical applications of melatonin in implant dentistry: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to its antioxidant properties and its ability to detoxify free radicals, melatonin may interfere in the function of osteoclasts and thereby inhibit bone resorption. This inhibition of bone resorption may be enhanced by a reaction of indolamine in osteoclastogenesis and this may contribute to certain benefits in implantology.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This systematic literature review on the use of melatonin in implant dentistry aims to provide guidelines for clinicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, Science Direct, ISI Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane base databases were used to identify articles published between 1999 and 2013 on melatonin use in implant dentistry. Ten articles were selected consisting of 9 animal research studies and 1 review article, involving 60 Beagle dogs, 57 rats, and 30 rabbits and a total of 352 implants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Melatonin, which is released into the saliva, has important implications in the oral cavity. To achieve dental implant stability, osseointegration involves a cascade of protein and cell apposition, vascular invasion, bone formation, and maturation. This process may be accelerated by local delivery of growth-promoting factors, as occurs with the topical application of melatonin over the implant surface.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experimental evidence suggests that topical applications of melatonin may be useful in oral surgery and implant dentistry, increasing bone-to-implant contact values and new bone formation, and so improving the success and long-term survival of implant treatments.
authors.affiliation: *Full Professor of Pharmacological Research in Dentistry, Director of Master in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, Senior Lecturer of Special Care in Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. †Collaborator in Pharmacological Research in Dentistry Group, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. ‡Full Professor of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Dental School, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy. §Research Fellow, Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy. ‖Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics and Digital Technology, School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY. ¶Full Professor of General and Implant Dentistry, Director of Master in Implant Dentistry, Department of Implant Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gómez-Moreno
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Salvatierra
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boquete-Castro
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guardia
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piattelli
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perrotti
authors.forename: Rafael Arcesio
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Delgado-Ruiz
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Calvo-Guirado
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003757:Dental Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015921:Dental Implants; D008550:Melatonin