Melatonin and the Dental Pulp: A Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Dental Pulp Biology
• Stem Cell Research
• Endodontic Therapeutics

Background:

• Melatonin is recognized for wound healing and stem cell differentiation in general medicine.
• Its specific applications and effects within endodontics are not well-established.
• This review explores melatonin's role in dental pulp tissue and human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the evidence on melatonin's effects on dental pulp tissue.
• To assess melatonin's impact on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs), focusing on proliferation and differentiation.
• To evaluate melatonin's potential therapeutic relevance in endodontics.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases.
• Searches included MeSH terms, hand searching, and screening of key journals up to July 1, 2025.
• Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis.

Main Results:

• Eleven studies focused on melatonin's effects on dental pulp tissue, noting anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and pulp capping properties.
• Eleven studies examined melatonin's impact on hDPSCs, observing effects on cell proliferation and differentiation.
• Evidence suggests a dose- and time-dependent influence of melatonin.

Conclusions:

• Melatonin exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrinolytic properties beneficial for dental pulp tissue.
• Melatonin shows potential as a stem cell modulator, promoting odontogenic differentiation in hDPSCs.
• Current evidence is limited, primarily from laboratory and animal studies, and insufficient to define optimal melatonin concentrations for endodontic use.