Diagnosis and management of oral lichen planus

Oral lichen planus is a relatively common mucosal autoimmune disease that may be initially detected and diagnosed in the dental office. For asymptomatic patients, clinical characteristics including a generalized involvement of the oral mucosa are often sufficient to establish a working diagnosis. Symptomatic presentations of oral lichen planus, however, can mimic a variety of other potentially serious conditions and scalpel biopsy is recommended to determine an accurate diagnosis. Treatment strategies for the symptomatic patient are discussed.