[Oral lichen planus and dental materials. Etiopathogenetic and clinical relations]

The oral mucosa may be the site of lesions attributable to contact allergy with dental material. Studies carried out show that in oral LP dental materials may represent a factor of by no means negligible importance in determining the lesion as they might be the triggering cause and subsequently influence course and development. On the basis of these observations, an interpretative model of the aetiopathogenetic relationship between dental materials and oral LP is proposed and the problem is also addressed from the clinical viewpoint. The essential aspects are outlined and a diagnostic-therapeutic protocol proposed that differentiates patients suffering from oral LP with presence of dental materials and those without.