Comparison of oral health, periodontal health and DMFT indicators in patients with oral lichen planus with healthy people

Abstract

Introduction: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. It predominantly affects middle-aged individuals, especially women. OLP presents with various clinical appearances, ranging from small white lesions to large areas involving the oral mucosa, often accompanied by pain and discomfort. The exact cause of this disease is still unknown but is attributed to genetic, infectious, drug-related, immunological, neurological, and psychological factors. Diagnosis of OLP involves clinical examination and, in some cases, biopsy for histopathological confirmation to differentiate it from other oral lesions such as leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The primary treatment for OLP focuses on reducing symptoms and alleviating pain, often through topical therapies. Regular follow-ups are crucial due to the potential for recurrence and its impact on oral health. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted on patients with oral lichen planus referred to the Tabriz Faculty of Dentistry. The sample size consisted of 46 patients and 46 healthy individuals (control group) matched in demographic characteristics. Clinical examinations and histopathological tests were used to identify patients. The sampling method was convenience sampling, and for each patient with lichen planus, a matched healthy individual was examined in the control group. Five indices—OHI-s, PI, GI, BOP, and DMFT—were measured for both groups. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS software version 21 and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: 97.8% of both groups were female, and 2.2% were male. The mean age of the lichen planus patients was 44.13 years with a standard deviation of 9.83, while the mean age of healthy individuals was 44.22 years with a standard deviation of 10.30. The mean OHI-s index in lichen planus patients was 1.44, and in healthy individuals, it was 1.28. The mean BOP in patients was 5.47 and in healthy individuals 2.78, with a significantly higher BOP in patients. The mean PI in patients was 0.78 and in healthy individuals 0.77. The mean GI in patients was 0.69 and in healthy individuals 0.64. The mean DMFT index in patients was 15.63 and in healthy individuals 16.69. Conclusion: The results indicate that only the BOP index shows a significant difference between patients with oral lichen planus and healthy individuals.