Management of oral lichen planus using diode laser (980nm). A clinical study

The present study was conducted on 25 patients suffering from persistent oral lichen planus (OLP). The cases were selected from the out patient clinic of the National Institute of LaserEnhanced Sciences, Cairo University. OLP was diagnosed clinically and histologically. Patients were advised to stop any medications for treatment of OLP three months before laser treatment. Patients were treated by diode laser (980 nm) at the affected areas of oral mucous membrane with defocused mode until blanching of the treated area. Patients were followed up three days, one, two and four weeks after treatment to assess healing process and any postoperative complications. Patients were examined after six months for recurrence. No serious complications were recorded, apart from slight edema and pain. Complete healing occurred after the second week. After six months follow up, recurrence occurred only in three patients (12%). Diode laser (980nm) provides a marked clinical improvement without the need for neither local nor systemic treatment.