[Gingival lichen planus]

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of uncertain etiology. When the gingiva is affected, the LP can appear under several clinical forms. The diagnosis of the gingival lichen planus is based on the anamnesis, the clinical observation and the histological analysis. Various medicamentous and non medicamentous treatments are used to treat gingival LP with random results, due to the lack of knowledge on the etiology and the recidiving character of the lesions. The risk of malignant transformation of gingival LP is weak but it depends on clinical forms, justifying a periodic follow-up of all patients.