Salivary opiorphin levels in denture-related traumatic ulcers

Opiorphin is a pentapeptide secreted in saliva and has a strong analgesic effect. Salivary opiorphin has been shown to increase in orofacial pain and may act as a pain reliever in pain caused by denture-related ulcers. The current study aimed to evaluate the salivary opiorphin levels in traumatic ulcers caused by ill-fitting dentures and demonstrate whether there is any correlation between trauma-related pain levels and salivary opiorphin levels.

Twenty-two individuals with new full dentures and a complaint of pain due to ill-fitting were included in this study. Patients were asked to rate their level of pain on a visual analog scale (VAS). Then, saliva specimens were collected at the first visit with the complaint of pain and 7 days following the denture adjustment.

The average saliva opiorphin level before and after denture adjustment were 19.29 ± 5.44 and 15.78 ± 3.95 ng/mL, respectively. A dependent (paired) t-test determined that the mean salivary opiorphin level differed statistically significantly before and after the adjustment of the dentures.

The findings show that salivary opiorphin levels increase in pain associated with denture-related traumatic ulcers. Adjusting the dentures resulted in pain relief and a statistically significant reduction in opiorphin levels.