Magnesium for Pain Management in Dental Practice: A Scoping Review of Current Evidence and Mapping Clinical...

This scoping review systematically maps the extent and nature of evidence regarding magnesium use for pain management in dental practice, characterizes the heterogeneity of administration protocols across different dental procedures, and identifies gaps in current evidence. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar through December 2025. Eligible studies included clinical trials evaluating magnesium salts administered via any route for pain management in dental settings. Two independent reviewers performed study selection and data extraction, synthesizing results through descriptive thematic analysis and evidence gap mapping. A total of 14 studies were included, spanning endodontic treatment (n = 6), third molar surgery (n = 5), orthognathic surgery (n = 1), and temporomandibular disorders (n = 2). Magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) emerged as the predominant formulation studied (78.6%). In cases of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, magnesium significantly enhanced local anesthetic success rates and reduced postoperative pain intensity. For third molar and orthognathic surgeries, magnesium demonstrated substantial early analgesic effects, along with sustained pain reduction and functional benefits. In patients with temporomandibular disorders, it produced superior long-term pain relief with improved jaw mobility. No serious adverse events were reported across the included trials. Despite its promising clinical efficacy as an adjunct analgesic across various dental procedures, evidence mapping revealed substantial gaps. The literature indicates that while magnesium's utility varies by procedure, the choice of formulation remains largely empirical rather than evidence-based. Furthermore, the concentration of research in specific procedural domains often neglects broader patient-centered outcomes, which limits the translation of its analgesic efficacy into meaningful clinical improvements.