The Use of an Antioxidant Gel in Modifying the Signs and Symptoms of Oral Lichen Planus
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment effect of an antioxidant gel on modifying the signs and symptoms of oral lichen planus. The gel contains the antioxidants phloretin and ferulic acid, as well as the essential oils menthol and thymol.
Twenty-eight patients with oral lichen planus from the Texas A&M University College of Dentistry Stomatology Center and from Dr. Plemons’ private practice in Dallas, TX qualified and consented to be in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment or a placebo-control group. Each patient was evaluated at three visits (baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks). At each visit, electronic surveys were taken to determine participants’ discomfort (measured using VAS) and the oral health impact of their disease (measured on a modified version of Oral Health Impact Profile-14). In addition, intraoral photographs were taken at each visit to monitor clinical severity of the disease (measured using a Reticular-Erythematous-Ulcerative scoring system). Patients were instructed to apply the assigned gel three times daily, after brushing their teeth.
The treatment group showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in discomfort between baseline (41.25 ± 25.16) and 4 weeks (27.50 ± 23.76) and between baseline and 8 weeks (18.92 ± 7.96). The control group showed no significant changes in discomfort. There were no significant differences between groups in improvement of oral health impact from baseline to 4 weeks. At 8 weeks, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the reported improvement in the categories of “trouble pronouncing words” and “painful aching” in the treatment group compared to the control group.
The treatment group did not show a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in clinical severity between baseline (13.00 ± 13.99) and 4 weeks (9.46 ± 5.68), but this difference became statistically significant if a greater p-value was used (p <0.10). There was not a statistically significant difference in clinical severity between baseline and 8 weeks in either group.
Application of a topical antioxidant gel is an effective means of reducing discomfort in patients with oral lichen planus and may also reduce the clinical severity of the disease.
Citation
Ricker, Mary Alexandra (2022). The Use of an Antioxidant Gel in Modifying the Signs and Symptoms of Oral Lichen Planus. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /197275.