the efficiency of photodynamic therapy in the management of pain in patients with oral lichen planus

Photodynamic therapy (pdt) which is a type of photochemotherapy is a new method of treatment used in cases of erosive/atrophic oral lichen planus (olp) to reduce symptoms of the disease. assessment of the effect of pdt on pain scale in patients having erosive / atrophic oral lichen planus.30 patients having erosive/atrophic olp were recruited in this study. the oral lesions were subjected to pdt twice per week for 2 months. methylene blue (mb) oral gel was used as a photosensitizer applied to the oral lesions, then diode laser of 650 nm wl and 150 mw (milli watts) powers was used in a non- contact mode for 2:30 minutes. visual analogue scale (vas); pain scale was used for clinical assessment. the results showed improvement in the severity of pain over the duration of treatment. there was a gradual decrease of the mean vas score over 8 weeks duration from 8±1 to 4±2. the decrease was statistically significant in the mean vas score in the first month from 7±2 to reach 5±2 by the end of the second month (p<0.001). the use of photodynamic therapy was found to be effective in management of erosive / atrophic olp; it showed improvement in the subjective as well as objective signs and symptoms of the disease with no side effects.