Implant treatment in patients with oral lichen planus: a prospective-controlled study

Objectives: The main aim of this prospective-controlled study was to evaluate the implant survival rate in patients diagnosed with oral lichen planus (OLP). The secondary goals were to analyze the presence of implant- and patient-dependent variables. Material and methods: Two groups, including 18 patients diagnosed with OLP and 18 controls, received 56 and 62 implants during the years 20032008. Pain and wound healing were evaluated after the procedure. After a mean follow-up of 53.5 and 52.3 months, clinical and radiographic assessments were used to evaluate implant survival and patient- and implant-dependent parameters. Results: The implant survival rate was 100% for the OLP group. Immediate postsurgical complications were similar in both groups. Peri-implant mucositis (PIM) was detected in 44.6% of the implants and 66.6% of the patients with OLP. The presence of desquamative gingivitis (DG) was associated with a higher rate of PIM on those implants of the OLP group (P=0.004). Peri-implantitis (PI) appeared in 10.7% of the implants and 27.7% of the patients with OLP (P=NS). Conclusion: Despite the limitations of the small sample size, it seems that lichen planus is not a prominent local player in the genesis of implant failure. Patients with DG should be carefully examined during follow-up care.