Chronic oral diseases: clinical and therapeutic approach

Chronic oral conditions including oral lichen planus, burning mouth syndrome and recurrent aphthous stomatitis are commonly observed in Maxillo-facial, Dentistry, ENT and Dermatologic clinics. These diseases significantly impact patients’ quality of life. Moreover management and treatment represent a clinical challenge since the aforementioned specialists have heterogeneous scientific backgrounds as well as different clinical and surgical skills. For this reason the aim of my triennial project was the realization of a multidisciplinary clinic dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of patients affected by 3 common oral conditions in order to optimise their management in terms of treatment, baseline evaluation and follow-up. Oral lichen planus, burning mouth syndrome and recurrent aphthous stomatitis are the three inflammatory conditions of the oral mucosa studied in my project. Their pathogenesis is not competely understood and available treatments are partially effective. The three different clinical studies following presented evaluated possible new therpaeutic strategies in this field.