Effects of laser photobiomodulation in the management of oral lichen planus: a literature review

Objectives. This review aims to understand whether Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is a valid aid in the management of Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) and its symptoms. Moreover, an analysis to determine whether it is a valid replacement for conventional therapies and whether standardized protocols can be used in PBM sessions or whether these should be changed depending on the type of injury has been made. Finally, an evaluation to determine whether PBM may induce transformation of dysplastic oral keratinocytes into squamous cell carcinoma has been made. Materials and Methods. Searches were conducted on two search databases for relevant publications released between 1992 and 2019. The databases used were: Pubmed “Medline”, and Google Scholar. Forty-four articles complied with the inclusion criteria and were included for quality assessment and data extraction. Results. All the studies reported positive effects of PBM; however, there was wide heterogeneity in the laser parameters used in the management of the OLP. The effective dose ranges from 2 to 3 J/cm2, in order to see the desired biological effects. Conclusions. PBM is useful in controlling algal sensation and can be used in cases of OLP lesions that are not responsive to conventional therapies or when corticosteroid doses are too high for the patient, resulting in possible side effects. Standardized biostimulation protocols with further scientific insights are therefore required.