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

Abstract 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 2003–2008. 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.