Different Approaches to Oral Lichen Planus Treatment: A Narrative Review

TL;DR

This review explores current and new treatments for oral lichen planus, a chronic mouth condition, to improve patient outcomes.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of emerging treatment options alongside conventional therapies for oral lichen planus.

Findings

Corticosteroids are widely used but not always effective for treating oral lichen planus.

Emerging therapies like photodynamic therapy and biologics show promise as alternative treatment options.

Abstract

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic immune-mediated disorder affecting the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, characterized by inflammation caused by T-cell-mediated destruction of basal keratinocytes with the potential for malignant transformation. The exact etiology of the disease remains unclear, but as its symptoms may reduce patient quality of life, various treatment modalities have been proposed, generally based on managing symptoms and controlling disease progression. In this narrative review, we examine both conventional therapies (corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, retinoids) and emerging treatment options (photodynamic therapy, low-level laser therapy, and biologics) in terms of their efficacy and limitations. Although corticosteroid therapy remains a cornerstone of treatment, it is not effective in all cases, demonstrating the need to investigate alternative methods; hence, we also present possible future directions for OLP treatment in this study.

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