Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This prospective, randomized, split-mouth, single-blinded clinical study compared the efficacy of simvastatin and melatonin in promoting alveolar bone regeneration and postoperative healing after mandibular third molar extraction. METHODS: Thirty healthy patients undergoing bilateral mandibular third molar extractions were recruited. Simvastatin (10 mg) was applied to one extraction site, and melatonin (3 mg) to the contralateral site using a gelatin sponge carrier. Pain, soft tissue healing, and bone regeneration were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS), Landry's Healing Index, and grayscale histogram analysis of digital radiographs over 12 weeks. RESULTS: Simvastatin-treated sockets demonstrated significantly higher grayscale values at weeks 1 (P < 0.001) and 4 (P = 0.009), indicating enhanced bone regeneration. VAS pain scores were also significantly lower in the simvastatin group at week 1 (P = 0.004). No significant differences were observed in soft tissue healing. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin demonstrated superior early osteogenic potential and pain reduction compared to melatonin in third molar extraction sockets. Its accessibility and cost-effectiveness support its clinical utility in socket preservation.