Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) define muscular and skeletal disorders having multifactorial etiological factors and in most of these disorders joint symptoms associate with muscle symptoms.

Treatment aims to control pain and regain the functions, therefore, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used. Moreover, symptoms of TMDs are generally associated with sleep disorders. Melatonin is a neuroendocrine hormone secreted by the pineal gland. It provides various physiological functions such as, regulation of circadian rhythm and sleep, as well as provides antioxidant effect and controls pain.

The aim of this study is to compare effects of melatonin with NSAI drugs and behavioral therapy on TMJ internal derangements and myofascial pain, as well as on pain, inflammation and sleep quality. In this retrospective study, a total of 45 patients of whom 8 were males (17.8%) and 37 were females (82.2%) age ranging between 16 to 65 years were included. Patients were assigned into 3 groups, a melatonin group, a NSAI group and a behavioral treatment group. Preoperative and first month postoperative parameters were evaluated using RDC/TMD form. Besides, sleep quality was evaluated preoperatively, first and third month postoperatively using VASQS scale. In the first month, facial pain decreased significantly in the melatonin group compared to other two groups (p1:0.011; p2:0.044; p<0.05). Mouth opening did not differ between the NSAI and the melatonin group (p>0.05) but was significantly lower in the behavioral treatment group (p1:0.000; p2:0.004; p<0.05). Considering muscle and joint pain, the melatonin group showed the least pain but there was not a significant difference between the NSAI group (p>0.05).

As a conclusion, complaints subsided in all the treatment groups and melatonin can be considered as an agent that has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in TMDs and also enhances sleep quality.

Keywords: TMJ Internal Derangements, Myofascial Pain, Melatonin, Analgesia

-This study is made by Muazzez SUZEN