MICROBIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF THE ORAL CAVITY IN PATIENTS WITH LICHEN PLANUS: FEATURES IN REMOVABLE PROSTHETICS

In modern orthopedic dentistry practice, there is an increase in the number of patients with various inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, among them lichen planus (LP) is increasingly being detected. Statistics indicate the prevalence of LP at 1.3-2.4% among all skin diseases, while oral lichen planus (OLP) can occur in 35% of cases. Current methods of treating partial and complete edentia in these patients include many types of prosthetics, both removable and non-removable. Although OLP is not an absolute contraindication to implantation surgery, removable dentures are most often indicated for such patients. The most popular and cost-effective materials for their manufacture at the moment are acrylic plastics, thermoplastics, polyurethane. The aim of the study was to analyze the microbiological profile of the oral cavity in patients with OLP using different types of removable dentures and to identify the relationship between denture material and the level of microbial colonization. The study included 20 patients with various forms of OLP who were using acrylic, thermoplastic (nylon), and polyurethane dentures. Microbiological analysis revealed that acrylic dentures had the highest tendency for microbial colonization, including Candida species, whereas thermoplastic and polyurethane dentures demonstrated better biocompatibility. Chi-square analysis indicated a tendency toward correlation between denture material and the degree of microbial colonization, although statistical significance was not reached. The results highlight the importance of considering microbial load when selecting denture materials for OLP patients and underscore the necessity of regular microbiological monitoring.