Periodontal Status in Patients With Oral Lichen Planus: A Case–Control Study

ABSTRACT Background The aim was to evaluate periodontitis prevalence and severity, and number of RT1 gingival recessions in Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) patients compared with non‐OLP controls. Methods This case–control study was conducted between 2024 and 2025 at the Oral Medicine Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy. A total of 176 individuals were enrolled: 88 histologically confirmed OLP patients and 88 age/sex‐matched controls. Periodontal status was assessed using major clinical indices and classified according to the 2017 AAP/EFP case definition. Ethics Committee UCSC, ID‐7603; ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07597616). Results Periodontitis prevalence was significantly higher in OLP patients than controls (71.6% vs. 51.1%; OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.44–6.21, p  = 0.03) as was severe periodontitis (48.9% vs. 30.7%; OR: 3.06; 95% CI: 1.44–6.47, p  = 0.004). RT1 recessions were more frequent in OLP ( p  = 0.008). A significant association between mean CAL and OLP severity was identified (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.03–2.72; p  = 0.03). Conclusions Patients with OLP showed a higher prevalence of periodontitis and a higher prevalence of severe forms in the overall study population. The association with RT1 recessions in the absence of periodontitis suggests a relationship between mucosal inflammation on periodontal tissues and should be further explored.