ORAL LICHEN PLANUS

WHAT IS ORAL LICHEN PLANUS?

Oral Lichen Planus is a chronic inflammatory disease of the mouth.

It is a potentially malignant disease.

It begins at a point in the mouth and tends to spread throughout the mouth over the years.

It affects both women and men (in a ratio of 1.4 to 1), usually appearing after the age of 40.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Striations or white lesions on the oral mucosa (cheeks, tongue, lips, gums).

The tongue loses taste buds in the whiter areas.

Erosions, ulcers, or canker sores.

White and red lesions with a sore in the middle.

Episodes of burning, pain, and erosions or ulcers (canker sores).

Difficulty eating, maintaining oral hygiene, and speaking.

In 20% of cases, it also presents skin lesions that cause significant itching.

Can it become malignant?

Some forms of Oral Lichen Planus are potentially malignant.

The rate of malignancy is 1 to 2%.

Is there treatment?

Yes.

The new treatment guidelines for lichen planus are recent, from this year, 2019.

The treatment aims to:

Prevent episodes

Treat episodes

Reduce pain and address canker sores

Treat any secondary infections, such as fungal infections

Educate on factors that may induce episodes of Oral Lichen Planus and ways to avoid these agents

Key points:

Oral hygiene must be performed with specific products.

You should avoid rinsing with mouthwashes that contain alcohol.

The diet must be adapted to the Oral Lichen Planus condition.

The treatment has a schedule to follow, which was updated this year, 2019, with new scientific evidence.

Contact Endoscopy in Oral Lichen Planus

Contact Endoscopy is a non-invasive, painless examination that can identify which cells and microvessels in the mouth are suspicious, as Oral Lichen Planus is a potentially malignant disease.

Contact Endoscopy informs us:

If a biopsy is necessary or if it is safe to perform only monitoring.

Where to perform the biopsy.

If there is a secondary fungal infection.

Since Oral Lichen Planus is a potentially malignant disease, it requires long-term follow-up in Oral Medicine, and Contact Endoscopy is a fundamental examination for monitoring those who present this oral disease.