Non-infectious inflammatory disorders of the oral cavity

Oral lichen planus (OLP)

The most common chronic mucocutaneous disease and affects mostly middle-aged women. It´s mostly a skin disease, but sometimes it only affects the oral cavity with lesions. I can also be found on the glans of penis, vulva and the nails. The etiology is however unknown but is believed to be immune mediated.

The lesions can have different morphology:

• Reticular lesions
  • Least painful type
• Erosive/ulcerative lesions
  • Most painful type
• Papular lesions
• Plaque-like lesions
• Atrophic
• Bullous

Aphthous stomatitis

This is a very common condition, where about 20 % of the general population is affected. It consists of repeated formation of benign and non-contagious mouth ulcers in healthy individuals. The cause for this is a T-cell mediated immune response which is triggered by a variety of factors, like nutrition deficiencies, local trauma, stress, hormonal influences, allergies and genetic predisposition.

Pemphigus vulgaris

This is rare chronic blistering skin disease. It is classified as a type II hypersensitivity, where antibodies attack the desmosomes which holds the different layers of the skin attached to each other. This results in big blisters. However, the basal keratinocytes are usually still attached to the basement membrane. This phenomenon is called tombstoning.

The condition affects mostly middle-aged and old patients.

Bullous pemphigoid

Also associated with type II hypersensitivity, but the triggering factors are unknown. It mostly affects people over 70 years and is self-limiting.

Tumor like lesions – Epulis

Epulis means growth in Greek, and the epulis are usually enlargements of tissue located on the gingiva or the alveoli of the oral cavity. They can be fibromatous, ossifying and acanthomateous.

Pyogenic granuloma

This is a lobulated capillary haemangioma and grows rapidly in the gingiva. Looks like a red lump.