The use of excimer laser in the treatment of oral lichen planus

In recent years, innovative technologies have been increasingly used in dentistry, among which laser therapy occupies a special place. The use of excimer laser for the treatment of lichen planus erythematosus, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the oral mucosa and causing significant discomfort in patients, represents one of the promising directions. The disease affects 1–2% of the global population and is often accompanied by painful symptoms, reducing the quality of life of patients. The use of an excimer laser with a wavelength of 308 nm opens new therapeutic opportunities due to the spot effect on the affected areas, side effect minimization, and reduced recovery time. This paper reviews the results of clinical studies on the effectiveness and safety of using of using an excimer laser in the treatment of lichen planus, describes the mechanisms of action of the laser and practical aspects of the procedures. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of using an excimer laser with a wavelength of 308 nm for the treatment of oral lichen planus. Material and methods. The study included 15 patients (mean age 55 years) with pathologically verified lichen planus of the oral mucosa who did not respond to standard treatment methods. Patients with known hypersensitivity to UV-B radiation were excluded from the study. An excimer laser with a wavelength of 308 nm was used for treatment. Laser treatment was carried out once a week for a period of two weeks to three months. The dose of laser radiation was selected individually, depending on the disease course peculiarities, starting with a minimal dose with gradual increase. Results. After completion of the treatment course, significant improvement was noted in 13 out of 15 patients: complete recovery – in 11 (73.3%) patients with complete remission for 12 months; significant improvement – in 2 (13.3%) patients; no effect – in 1 (6.7%) patient with extensive erosive and ulcerative lesions. Conclusion. The results of the study show that the excimer laser is a convenient, well-controlled, easily tolerated palliative treatment method for symptomatic OLP. The proposed technology requires further study, but currently already represents a worthy alternative to standard OLP treatment methods. Key words: oral lichen planus, excimer laser, laser technologies in dentistry, treatment, prevention, oral mucosa diseases, new technologies in dentistry. Conflicts of interest. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Funding. There was no funding for this study