Oral lichenoid lesions associated with amalgam restorations: A prospective pilot study addressing the adult population of the Basque Country

Abstract

UNLABELLED: Oral lichenoid lesions (OLLs) are linked to a heterogeneous group of pathologies involving the oral mucosa that cannot be distinguished from the oral lichen planus excepting the fact that direct causal factors such as silver amalgam restorations (SARs) can be allocated to them. PURPOSE: To analyze the prevalence of mucosal lesions associated with SAR in a group of SAR carrying patients in the Basque Country. STUDY DESIGN: A clinical prospective study was carried out on 100 adult patients over 30 years of age at the UPV/EHU Clinical Odontology Service whose rear teeth had at least one SAR. Patients were identified and mucosal lesions and amalgam restorations were characterized. Patch tests were performed on patients with lesions and amalgams were replaced with composite material. A statistical and comparative analysis was performed with the resulting data. RESULTS: OLLs were found in 7 patients whose predominant lesion was bilateral, asymmetrical and asymptomatic white papule-macule. Lesions were related to old and corroded SARs. Patch testing was positive in two cases. SAR substitution produced an improvement in 5 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of lichenoid lesions associated with SARs is infrequent in our environment and is preferentially related to old and corroded restorations.