IL-2 and TNF-alpha might play a role in burning mouth syndrome. Burning mouth syndrome may occur as a sign of predisposition to autoimmunity. Presence of low levels of CD28(+) supports the provision that BMS might be a pre-autoimmune disease.

The results of our study indicate that Mg levels could have an impact on symptoms of BMS and further studies are necessary to determine the importance of cytokines in the pathogenesis of BMS.

Objectives:To investigate the quality of root fillings and coronal restorations and their association with periapical status in an adult Turkish subpopulation.Methods:A total of 400 subjects were examined. Panoramic radiographs of all participants and additional periapical radiographs of affected teeth were processed. The frequency of root canal treatment and the periapical status of all root filled teeth were evaluated. The relationship between the radiographic quality of root fillings and coronal restorations was examined by chi-squared statistical analysis.Results:A total of 9460 teeth were examined. The total number of root filled teeth was 890 (9.39%), and 658 (73.9%) had apical periodontitis (AP). There was a significant correlation between the presence of periapical pathology and inadequate root canal fillings (P<.05). Presence of AP in root filled teeth was associated with inadequate adaptation of the filling (OR=1.097; P=0.54), and with poor radiographic quality of the coronal restoration (OR=0.91; P=0.70), and with poor radiographic quality of the filling restoration (OR=0.97; P=0.92). Only 24.5% of the root fillings were adequate. The highest percentage of root fillings was found in maxillary right first molars (6.9%).Conclusions:The results demonstrate a low prevalence of root-filled teeth and poor quality of coronal restorations and root fillings consistent with a high prevalence of apical periodontitis in a Turkish subpopulation.

Objectives: Although several detailed studies concerning the patient profile and clinical features of oral lichen planus have been undertaken all over the world in different populations, a similar study has not yet been conducted in a Turkish population. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of a group of patients with oral lichen planus in Turkey. Study Design: Charts of 370 patients, from the archive of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology Department of Marmara University Faculty of Dentistry (Istanbul, Turkey), with histologically confirmed clinical diagnosis of oral lichen planus in the period 1990-2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of the 370 patients, 260 (70.3%) were women and 110 (29.7%) were men. The mean age was 49.84±13.41 years (range of 16-83). The lesions were asymptomatic in 63 patients (17%). Nearly half of the patients (47.6%) had multiple sites of involvement. Predominantly red forms were the most frequent, affecting 60.5% of patients. Approximately 17% of the patients had symptoms of possible extraoral involvement. No evidence suggesting a connection between oral lichen planus and tobacco or alcohol use was found. Only one out of the 370 cases had histologically proven malignant transformation. Conclusions: The patient profile and clinical features of oral lichen planus in Turkey were generally similar to those described in other populations. The preponderance of the red forms and also the fact that majority of patients referred themselves to our clinic highlighted the lack of awareness among Turkish health care providers about lichen planus. Key words:Oral lichen planus, clinical features, patient profile.

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