USE OF LOW-POWER LASER IN THE TREATMENT OF ORAL LICHEN PLANUS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

<h3>Objectives</h3> The pharmacological treatment used for oral lichen planus lesions has limitations. The present review sought to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment of oral lichen planus lesions by means of the low-power laser, pointed out as a promising alternative. <h3>Study Design</h3> A search in the PubMed/MEDLINE databases, Google Scholar, and Scielo was performed applying the descriptors "Oral Lichen Planus," "Low Power Laser," and "Laser Therapy" with a filter for publications of the last 10 years. The following exclusion criteria were adopted: literature reviews; systematic reviews, high power laser; and studies involving other oral injuries. Thirteen articles were used in the present study. <h3>Results</h3> The treatment of the oral lichen planus through the low-power laser, causes pain reduction (evaluated through the visual analog). Response rate assessment methods indicated significant reduction of scores in the groups that received laser therapy treatment. Clinical data, scored according to the Thongprasom scale, showed significant decrease in the score after treatment. Evaluation of psychological factors through Beck's anxiety scale also pointed at significant improvements. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Laser therapy is more effective in relation to the treatment with corticosteroids and can be used as a new mode of treatment of oral lichen injuries or as an adjuvant in treatment.