Vitamin D in the Treatment of Oral Lichen Planus: A Systematic Review.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic mucocutaneous condition that affects up to 2% of the general population, and typically presents with long-standing, non-responsive lesions, with episodes of exacerbation and remissions. The etiopathogenesis of OLP is still unclear, although, it has been postulated that it is most likely a T-cell-mediated condition of an unknown antigen. The treatment remains a challenge with no defined treatment strategy. Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, along with its regulatory effect on keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation; thus, suggesting its possible role in the treatment of OLP. This systematic review aims to evaluate the therapeutic role of vitamin D in OLP treatment. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google scholar search engines for studies evaluating vitamin D as a treatment modality in OLP from January 2000 to August 2022. Articles were searched with the combination of Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms. A web platform for visualizing risk-of-bias assessment was used in this review, and descriptive statistics were calculated. Out of the seventeen retrieved studies, five articles meeting the inclusion criteria were considered in this systematic review. All the included studies demonstrated significant amelioration in the OLP symptoms in patients who were given vitamin D supplements as an adjuvant to the conventional steroid therapy and or placebo. This systematic review signifies the role of vitamin D as adjuvant therapy for OLP. However, more studies with larger sample size are required to validate these results.

Growing Old is Mandatory But Growing Up is Optional: An Explanation to Geriatrics.

Growing old is an inevitable process and aging graciously requires a healthy body where oral cavity occupies an important place. Geriatric dentistry is a specialized multidisciplinary branch of general dentistry designed to provide dental services to elderly patients. The rise in life expectancy has attributed to the substantial reduction in mortality which brought about by improved health care facilities, sanitation, environmental and public health reforms coupled with better hygiene and living conditions. The goal of geriatric treatment is to achieve optimal oral health, thus enhancing overall health. This begins with a concerted effort between the patient and the healthcare and dental teams. When medical problems exist, the physician and other involved healthcare professionals should be consulted, as these diseases can affect the safety and efficacy of various dental treatments. Thus a unified approach should be followed to assist geriatric patients to maintain optimal oral health and a high quality of life. Here in, this article we have reviewed the categories geriatric patients are divided to, various aging theories, changes occurring in various systems with their effects on system along with the various dental effects and age changes in them and treatment needs and strategies' concerning the elderly population.