Objectives: To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of oral lichen planus (OLP) in a group of Croatian patients seen between 2006 and 2012. Study Design: A group of 563 patients with a diagnosis of OLP was retrospectively reviewed in our clinic. Data regarding age, gender, medical history, drugs, smoking, alcohol, chief complaint, clinical type, localization, histology, treatment and malignant transformation were registered. Results: Of the 563 patients, 414 were females and 149 were males. The average age at the diagnosis was 58 (range 11-94). The most common site was buccal mucosa (82.4%). Most of our patients did not smoke (72.5%) or consume alcohol (69.6%). Patients reported oral soreness (43.3%), mucosal roughness (7%), xerostomia (3%), gingival bleeding (2%) and altered taste (0.5%) as the chief complaint, while almost half of them were asymptomatic (44.2%). The most common types of OLP were reticular (64.8%) and erosive (22.9%). Plaque-like (5.7%) atrophic/erythemtous (4.3%) and bullous (2.3%) type were also observed. Malignant transformation rate of 0.7% was recorded. Conclusions: OLP mostly affects non-smoking middle-aged women. Buccal mucosa is the most commonly affected site. In almost half of the cases patients are asymptomatic. In spite of the small risk for malignant transformation all patients should be regularly monitored. Key words:Oral lichen planus, malignant transformation, epidemiology, retrospective study.

Adresa za dopisivanje izv. prof. dr. sc. Vlaho Brailo Stomatološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu Zavod za oralnu medicinu Gundulićeva 5, 10 000 Zagreb brailo@sfzg.hr Sažetak Svrha ispitivanja: Bioimpedancija je otpor prolasku električne struje kroz tkivo i ovisi o njegovoj strukturi i kemijskom sastavu. Svrha istraživanja bila je mapirati bioimpedancijske spektre za svaku regiju usne šupljine. Ispitanici i postupci: U mjerenju bioimpedancije sudjelovalo je tridesetero ispitanika s urednim nalazom oralne sluznice, a obavljalo se na 14 lokalizacija u usnoj šupljini s lijeve i desne strane te je ponovljeno nakon sedam i četrnaest dana. Rezultati: Najniže vrijednosti izmjerene su na dorzumu jezika, a najviše na tvrdom nepcu. Nije ustanovljena statistički značajna razlika između mjerenja na lijevoj i desnoj strani. Statistički značajno više vrijednosti izmjerene su ženama na sluznici gornje usne, dorzumu jezika i na ventralnom dijelu jezika. Utvrđena je statistički značajna razlika između nepušača i pušača na sluznici donje usne i sluznici dna usne šuplji-ne. Vrijednosti bioimpedancije bile su u negativnoj korelaciji s količinom sline na sluznici gornje usne, na tvrdom nepcu, dorzumu jezika i na podjezičnoj sluznici. Mjerenja pri niskim frekvencijama imala su veću varijabilnost. Zaključak: Vrijednosti bioimpedancije najčešće ovise o stupnju keratinizacije sluznice. Na njihove vrijednosti vjerojatno utječu demografski i klinički čimbenici, što je potrebno razjasniti u daljnjim studijama s većim brojem ispitanika. Ključne riječi električna impedancija, oralna sluznicaZavod za oralnu medicinu Stomatološkog fakulteta Sveučilišta

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Background: Nerve recovery in the orofacial region is not completely satisfactory. Nowadays, low level laser therapy (LLLT) has been recognized and accepted as a possible therapeutic option in various states of nerve damage throughout the body. LLLT is noninvasive and there are only few contraindications for its use. Therefore, the effect of LLLT on patients with idiopathic orofacial pain and traumatic trigeminal neuropathy was assesed. Methods: Twenty one patient was enrolled in this pilot study, there were 10 patients with persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP) and 11 patients with traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (TTN). Each patient was treated once daily in 10 sessions using a GaAlAs laser (830 nm, 3 W, 50 ms, 50 Hz which is equivalent to an energy density of 1.5 J/cm

Background: Electrical impedance (EI) is a property of all living tissues and represents the resistance to the electric current flow through a living tissue. EI depends on the structure and chemical composition of the tissue. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of age, sex, and electrode pressure on the EI values of healthy oral mucosa. The study involved 101 participants with healthy oral mucosa who were divided into three age groups. EI was measured in seven anatomical regions. Results: Significant differences between different age groups were found. Younger participants (20–40 years) had significantly higher EI values than the older participants (60+). Significantly higher EI values were found in women at all localisations at all measured frequencies, except on the hard palate. EI values measured with higher sub-pressure were significantly lower than values measured with lower sub-pressure at all frequencies and localisations, except the tongue dorsum, tongue border, and sublingual mucosa. Conclusions: This study found that EI values in healthy oral mucosa depend on age and sex and may also depend on the pressure of the measuring device. These factors should be kept in mind when EI is used as a diagnostic method for different oral lesions.

This study presents the process of implementing an e-learning course for clinical education in oral medicine and examines its impact on students’ knowledge and satisfaction. Thirty six (39.6%) fifth-year undergraduate students participated in the study. Every week before their clinical practice, students studied relevant e-learning materials and completed an assessment test. At the end of the semester, students’ knowledge and attitudes towards e-learning were assessed by the knowledge test and anonymous questionnaire. Students who had access to the e-learning course had significantly better knowledge than students who did not have access to the e-learning course. Exposure to the e-learning course contributed to a better understanding of oral medicine curriculum, increased confidence with oral medicine patients and easier participation in oral medicine clinical practice. This study provided evidence that the e-learning can be implemented as a valuable adjunct to clinical education in oral medicine.