ASSESSMENT OF PAIN IN PATIENTS WITH ORAL LICHEN PLANUS USING THE AUTHOR'S PROGRAM

Abstract

Purpose: to evaluate subjective pain sensations using the visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain in patients with various forms of oral lichen planus (OLP) using the author's computer program at rest, while talking, while eating (brushing teeth).Material and methods. Pain sensations were assessed in 287 patients with a verified diagnosis of OLP and 32 patients in the control group using the VAS of pain using the author's computer program «PainStim - pain assessment».Results and discussion. The highest VAS scores for pain were observed in patients with erosive-ulcerative form (VAS =37,6±13,7), bullous form (VAS = 31,0±6,6) during conversation; when eating (brushing teeth) in these patients, the VAS values were significantly higher - 77,4±9,18 and 68,0±5,44, respectively, which was interpreted as «severe pain». Hyperkeratotic and exudative-hyperemic forms of LP when eating had pain VAS scores of 15,0±5,02 and 11,6±4,71, respectively, which was interpreted as«weak pain». Discomfort, weak pain sensations (VAS = 11,4±2,76) were noted as an atypical form of OLP when talking, while taking 44,6±9,42, which is the upper limit between «weak» and «moderate» pain sensations. In patients with a typical form of LP, there were no pain sensations both at rest, when talking, and when eating; there was no statistically significant difference between the control group.Conclusions. Arelationship was established between the intensity of pain sensations and the form of OLP (erosive-ulcerative, bullous, atypical, exudative-hyperemic and atypical). The data obtained indicate the need to include a digital assessment of pain in various states (at rest, while talking, while eating/brushing teeth) with OLP in the protocol of a comprehensive examination of patients and at the stages of treatment.