Elenbaas, A. (2022). Oral Lichen Planus: A review of clinical features, etiologies, and treatments.

Dentistry Review, 2(1), 1-12.

Lichen Planus (LP) is an immune-mediated inflammatory condition of the skin and

mucous membranes. It can present itself in the oral cavity and is referred to as oral lichen

planus (OLP). OLP is a multifactorial disease, meaning the condition results from a combination

of genetic and environmental factors such as; dental materials, stress, medications etc. Viruses

such as Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV), Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

among others have also been associated with OLP. Some subtypes of OLP require no treatment,

however others require medications or another alternative treatment.

In class we’ve gone over unit 103 over immunity and immunological disease. We

discussed how its associated with autoimmune disease. We talked over the different types of

OLP; reticular, erosive and bullous LP. In class I don’t believe we went over the rarer forms of

OLP, such as papular OLP that contains small white raised areas and atrophic OLP that has

diffuse red lesions with the possibility of having combined clinical features with another

subtype, such as white striae. I also was able to witness OLP in person when I brought in a

friend to the clinic. Her OLP was determined to be reticular as it presented with a white lace like

pattern, but on the lateral border of her tongue instead of the buccal mucosa.

In a study done in the article there was a strong correlation between the stress-related

release of cortisol in the body and significantly increased symptoms of reticular OLP.

Medication can also cause a lichen planus-like reaction, but usually resolve after the removal of

a causative agent. Interestingly a study was done that tested the tissues of those with OLP, oral
squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and healthy controls and a significant number of cases of OLP

and OSCC came out positive for EBV.

As a student after reading the article I’m better aware of the different subtypes, risks,

and treatments of OLP. I better understand now how vast the information is on just one

particular pathology and that we’ve only scratched the surface with many of the ones we’ve

covered in class already. Going forward as a student and future hygienist I’d like to keep

growing and expanding my knowledge on oral pathologies.

I found this article to be fairly informative, the only thing I would like to see more

information on in the future is that a possible cause of OLP is VZV found in the liver. I also

learned that OLP has a strong association with the risk of developing HPV. This article taught me

more about this disease and as a hygienist I’ll be able to better talk with my patients about the

different risk factors.

International Dental Journal, 1-5.

A study done in Brazil aimed to evaluate the association between oral health literacy

(OHL) and periodontal conditions. Patients being able to obtain, read, understand, and use OHL

is a key factor in the overall oral health of a patient as well as reducing inequalities. Patients

with low levels of OHL are often associated with poor dental behaviors, increased urgent dental

visits and smoking habits. This study highlights these key factors and the prevalence of

periodontal disease. One way to combat periodontal disease is to develop strategies on how to

address low OHL levels.

The results in this study showed 66% of participants had moderate OHL and 16% had

low OHL. There was a significant increase of periodontitis in participants with low OHL.

Periodontitis is the #2 most infectious disease and we covered it in unit 104. In numerous

hygiene classes and clinic, we’ve talked about the effect’s periodontitis can have on one’s

health. Periodontitis involves serious inflammation of gingival tissue that can lead to tooth loss.

Bacteria involved with periodontitis may also enter your blood stream and is linked with

respiratory and other diseases. In Shaunda’s class we were told that we are preventative

specialists and it’s our job to not only help make our patients mouth healthier but to educate

our patients on the risks of poor oral health and how they can improve it.

The biggest limitation to this study is that the findings only represent users of primary

health care services in urban areas. The participants were also mainly women. Gathering more

data in other populations in the long run may be able to help address concerns over low OHL
levels. As a student I’d like to continue to learn ways to better educate my patients on the

importance of oral health in a way that they can process and understand.

The study also highlighted demographic, social, and behavioral factors. Aging, lower

education levels, and smoking taken into consideration when it came to the severity of

periodontitis. As a future hygienist I want to take this information and apply it to how I treat

each individual patient. Some patients because of their age, social/financial standing, and habits

make them greater risks of disease, I want to always keep this in my mind when caring for my

future patients so I can give them the best treatment possible.

necrosis. Oral Oncology, 125, 1-3.

More often than not a malignancy near the head and neck region are discovered too

late, resulting in the need to use different types of therapies. Using radiation therapy often

causes mucositis which is characterized by painful ulcerations. There is also a link between

mucositis and diabetes. This study follows a 53-year-old white male presenting with an

uncommon malignant neoplasm called polymorphous adenocarcinoma which affects the

salivary glands and commonly localized in the palate of the mouth. The patient presented with

these painful ulcers and was treated with a form of light therapy, however after several

sessions the patient had improved symptoms and abandoned the study.

The study itself lacks enough information on what happened after the patient

abandoned the study. When the patient entered the study, he had a yellowish mass of necrotic

tissue on the left buccal mucosa. After treatment the patient revisited a year later and the left

buccal mucosa area had healed. However, he also presented with late-stage caries as well as

bone death caused by the radiation. It’s unfortunate that the patient abandoned the study, it

would have been interesting to see what more they could have learned on this unique case.

I enjoyed reading about this case and the depth of care that goes into treating a patient

with oral cancer. As a student it makes me better understand how adjuvant radiotherapy can

affects someone’s body both short term and long. In this case the malignancy was diagnosed in

its initial stages, which isn’t always the case. This patient also unfortunately developed more

than one complication after receiving chemotherapy and radiation.

work primarily in a general office. However, in class you mentioned that if signs and symptoms

go unnoticed long enough and the oral cancer isn’t found early enough that it is essentially a

death sentence (unit 107). That resonated in me and I want my future goals as a hygienist to be

able to make sure my patient is taken care of and receives the upmost care. This information

highlights the risks of radiation therapy so I can empathize with the patient better. In class we

learned our role as a hygienist is to help our patient get ready before getting radiation by

scaling and root planning, give fluoride treatments, and other dental prophylaxis.
Akbay, E. (2017). Transposition of lingual thyroid gland to the submandibular region by

transoral approach. Auris Nasus Larynx, 44 (3), 345-350.

During embryogenesis your thyroid gland is suppose to descend into the neck, however

during development sometimes it doesn’t, and instead is located near the base of the tongue.

This is known as a lingual thyroid. Usual cases are asymptomatic, but in this case a patient

presented with a 3cm x 3cm mass of lingual thyroid that was causing dysphagia, dyspnea and

sleep apnea. This patient’s lingual thyroid was surgically transported back to the neck region

without causing hypothyroidism. Usually during this type of surgery would require cutting

through the jaw bone and splitting the tongue, however in this case that was not done in order

to protect thyroid function.

In class over unit 105 we talked about developmental disorders. I really found the

lingual thyroid one very interesting and wanted to learn a little more over it. I thought it was

interesting that the thyroid gland could be seen in other places such as the heart, pharynx,

esophagus, lung, bladder and more. In class we discussed that usually a lingual thyroid isn’t

much to worry about as its usually asymptomatic and won’t need to be surgically removed.

However, I found this article where that wasn’t the case and the lingual thyroid was actually

causing some pretty uncomfortable and serous symptoms.

I found it interesting that in most cases when the thyroid tissue needed to be moved it

involved the cutting of skin, bone, and tongue and this particular case did not. It’s really cool to

have read about how they moved the lingual thyroid lower to give the patient a better quality
of life. As a student this information was just something fun to learn more about and dive a

little deeper into a symptomatic lingual thyroid.

Unless I see a patient with a lingual thyroid, I don’t believe a lot of this knowledge is

something I’ll bring with me as a future hygienist. It’s not necessarily our job to do anything

with a lingual thyroid whether it’s asymptomatic or not. The information in this article was

extensive and I don’t believe any information was lacking or vague.

and Maxillofacial surgery, Medicine, and Pathology, 1-6.

Cherubism is a rare hereditary disease that presents with painless bilateral swelling of the jaws

caused by a non-neoplastic bone lesion. The characterization of this condition is that the cheeks

are fuller and round as well as the eyes often have an upward cast if all four quadrants are

affected. This study presents Asian twins at age 7 who were diagnosed with this condition after

radiographs were taken. This case study notes that there are very few reports of Cherubism in

Asia. The condition progressed in the mandibular area calling for curettage and debulking. The

twins were later brought in at age 14 and the maxillary portion of the disease had disappeared

completely.

This condition can cause teeth to shift due to the expansion of bone. In class we’ve

gone over cysts that do the same thing. In the book looking over unit 106 I learned that

cherubism often stabilizes after puberty and often times decrease on its own or completely

disappear. I found it interesting that the article went over different grading scales. Grade 1 the

lesions are localized in the mandibular molar regions. Grade 2 it extends anteriorly or towards

the maxillary tuberosity. Grade 3 diffuse lesions are seen in both the mandibular and maxillary

regions.

Being a student, this article has taught me more about this genetic condition that affects

children. The condition itself is interesting in that the lesions inside the bone regress and can

disappear on their own without any treatment. Often times this condition goes unnoticed and is

never a problem for the patient.

about what the patient is to expect in the future. Cherubism can cause malocclusion, tooth

displacement, premature loss of baby teeth and root absorption of permanent dentition. I will

absolutely want to utilize this information as a future hygienist. It will be my job to help with

OHI on how to properly clean their teeth if they are affected by this disease.