The Effect of Local Simvastatin on Alveolar Bone Regeneration, Pain, and Swelling After Tooth Extraction: a Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this systematic literature review was to evaluate the effects of local simvastatin on alveolar bone regeneration, pain and swelling after tooth extraction, with a minimum follow-up of two months.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A literature search was conducted using PubMed (MEDLINE) database to identify studies published between January 2015 and January 2025 containing a minimum of 20 sockets per study to evaluate the effect of local simvastatin in promoting bone regeneration after tooth extraction. Data synthesis in test and control groups included following parameters: Extraction socket filling material and method, regenerated bone morphology, pain, and swelling. Quality and risk-of-bias assessment were evaluated by the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Descriptive statistics were used.

RESULTS

A total of 628 articles were screened, with 6 articles meeting the inclusion criteria and being utilized for this review. A total of 326 sockets with different types were evaluated, the effect of local simvastatin on the morphology of regenerated bone showed statistically significant (P < 0.05) progressive improvement in most cases. Furthermore, pain and swelling assessments revealed a decrease in the test groups compared to the control groups suggesting that local simvastatin may promote bone regeneration while reducing post-treatment discomfort. However, different tools were used to measure regenerated bone morphology pain and swelling, making it hard to draw consistent conclusions about patient comfort.

CONCLUSIONS

Local simvastatin application promotes bone regeneration without increasing pain or swelling, supporting its use as a safe and effective supplement in regenerative bone treatment after tooth extraction.