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Open research questions in Oral Health Pathology and Treatment

146 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 2,419 Oral Health Pathology and Treatment papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Discussion: The lack of standardisation in MMO measurement techniques and terminology poses challenges for comparing outcomes across studies.

    Variability in Measurement Techniques and Terminology for Maximum Mouth Opening in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Critical Review of Methodological Inconsistencies · 2026 · DOI

  • This review is limited by the predominance of low-level evidence, as most included studies were case reports and small case series, which are inherently prone to publication bias favoring positive outcomes. The absence of randomized controlled trials, lack of blinding, and absence of comparator arms in most studies further limit the strength of the conclusions. Follow-up durations were heterogeneous and generally short (three to 13 months), limiting assessment of long-term efficacy, relapse rates, and safety. In addition, variability in diagnostic approaches raises the possibility of misclassification bias, particularly given the known risk of prior misdiagnosis in NLP. Outcome measures and treatment regimens were also inconsistent across studies, including differences in JAKI type, dosing, and route of administration, which contributed to substantial heterogeneity and limited comparability across reports.

    Therapeutic Outcomes of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Refractory Nail Lichen Planus: A Systematic Review · 2026 · DOI

  • LPS stimulation was selected to simulate the inflammatory microenvironment of OLP, but this is a preliminary confirmation of IEL-KC communication that requires more comprehensive validation.

    Keratinocytes regulate intraepithelial lymphocytes homing and mediate mucosal barrier integrity via JAK2/STAT3 signaling in oral lichen planus · 2026 · DOI

  • The present study was the first to investigate the molecular regulation mechanism of KCs on OLP IELs migration and homing, indicating this is an understudied area requiring further research.

    Keratinocytes regulate intraepithelial lymphocytes homing and mediate mucosal barrier integrity via JAK2/STAT3 signaling in oral lichen planus · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the limited number of clinical trials, heterogeneity in cannabis-based therapies, and a lack of standardized protocols underscore the need for further rigorous, interdisciplinary research to establish consistent dosing and assess the efficacy of various cannabinoids in treating oral mucosa conditions.

    The therapeutic effect of cannabidiol in oral mucosa lesions · 2025 · DOI

  • AIMS: Considering the high prevalence rate of tobacco-associated problems in the oral cavity and few studies on the Iranian population regarding the effects of smoking on the oral cavity, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between smoking and oral lesions in the Iranian population.

    Evaluation of Oral Mucosal Lesions in Iranian Smokers and Non-smokers · 2024 · DOI

  • Abstract Areca nut has been considered a high-risk carcinogen for head and neck cancer (HNC) in Southeast Asia, while its molecular effects, especially on the miRNA regulatory roles, remain elusive.

    Abstract 5694: Elucidating areca nut-induced miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks in head and neck cancer pathogenesis · 2024 · DOI

  • CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OLP should be investigated to rule out the presence of hepatic disease, which can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma, allowing an early diagnosis that would help to a better approach to liver disease and a notable improvement in prognosis in terms of both progression and severity.

    Association of oral lichen planus with hepatic disorders and hepatocellular carcinoma: systematic review and meta-analysis · 2023 · DOI

  • Considering the aforementioned arguments, would it be wise to entirely omit OLP from the list of OPMDs? Although the consensus remains elusive, it is rather astute to keep OLP under the scanner, particularly the erosive/atrophic types for their higher possibility of developing into oral cancer.

    Is oral lichen planus a potentially malignant disorder?: A critical appraisal; a commentary on the letter to the editor · 2023 · DOI

  • Conclusion:Despite the low MT rate for a long follow-up, it is hard to say which treatment method is the best, due to the heterogeneity of the clinical aspects of the lesions and because there is no standardised test method, either genetic testing or immunohistochemical testing.

    Oral Leukoplakia. A Five-Year Follow-Up Study · 2023 · DOI

  • In agreement with previous surveys, a lack of consensus around the management of OL was observed, supporting claims from learned academies and societies for treatment guidelines aiming to reduce inter-practitioner variability.

    Oral leukoplakia diagnosis and treatment in Europe and Australia: Oral Medicine Practitioners' attitudes and practice · 2022 · DOI

  • The published results on the co-expression between EGFR and p53 are controversial, with some authors showing p53 loss stimulates metastases development while others show p53 expression can increase sensitivity to EGFR inhibitors.

    Oral squamous cell carcinomas: a histopathological review of multiple cases from Western Romania · 2022 · DOI

  • Research on oral squamous cell carcinomas has focused on the peculiarities and molecular profile of tumor cells, and only to a small extent on the infiltrate of inflammation relatively constantly associated with tumor cell proliferation, and only a few articles have been published on the peculiarities of tumor stroma.

    Oral squamous cell carcinomas: a histopathological review of multiple cases from Western Romania · 2022 · DOI

  • TSCC in older adults predominantly reported in tobacco users (70%) whereas in young adults, TSCC was associated with a higher incidence in nonsmokers (53%); the causes of these cancers in young adults remain unclear.

    Meta-analysis on risk factors of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in young adults · 2019 · DOI

  • While it is possible that OLP represents a true autoimmune condition against an epithelial autoantigen, the mechanisms that lead to this immune dysregulation are still poorly understood.

    The immunopathogenesis of oral lichen planus—Is there a role for mucosal associated invariant T cells? · 2019 · DOI

  • The mainstay of OMPDs treatment around the world is now the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser but the reported recurrence and malignant transformation rates vary widely in the literature.

    Outcome of CO2 laser vaporization for oral potentially malignant disorders treatment · 2018 · DOI

  • CONCLUSION: Although the newer therapies offer advantage over steroids for the management of OLP in recalcitrant cases, extensive lesions, and cases unresponsive to steroids, but sufficient clinical data on their use are still lacking.

    Interventions for the management of oral lichen planus: a review of the conventional and novel therapies · 2017 · DOI

  • The association between EGFR and p27 may represent an important mechanism in the control of cellular proliferation and malignant progression of oral epithelium and therefore warrants further investigation.

    Immunohistochemical expression of EGFR in oral leukoplakia: Association with clinicopathological features and cellular proliferation · 2012 · DOI

  • Oral lichen planus (OLP), oral lichenoid lesion (OLL) and oral leukoplakia (OL) are potentially carcinogenic oral diseases where colonisation by Candida is common, but acetaldehyde production by Candida has not been studied.

    Production of carcinogenic acetaldehyde by <i>Candida albicans</i> from patients with potentially malignant oral mucosal disorders · 2012 · DOI

  • However, considering its high prevalence and potential to undergo malignant transformation, OSMF has not been widely investigated with respect to levels of antioxidants, especially beta carotene.

    Estimation of serum beta carotene levels in patients with oral submucous fibrosis in India · 2011 · DOI

  • A link has been suggested between human papillomavirus (HPV) and oral cavity cancer but the significance of HPV contribution to oral carcinogenesis as well as the prevalence of HPV infection in normal oral cavity mucosa remains debated.

    Low prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in the healthy oral mucosa of a Northern Italian population · 2011 · DOI

  • This study was carried out because of a lack of consensus among different authors on the utility of TB, as well as to determine useful adjuncts to detect oral pre-cancer and cancer.

    The use of toluidine blue in the detection of pre-malignant and malignant oral lesions · 2011 · DOI

  • Authors’ conclusions: Given the limitation of evidence (only one included randomized controlled trial) and the potential methodological weakness of the included study, it is valid to say that there is insufficient evidence to support or refute the use of a visual examination as a method of screening for oral cancer using a visual examination in the general population.

    Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer · 2009 · DOI

  • Consensus remains elusive, and leading workers in this field have recently published conflicting reports on the malignant potential of OLP and on the important question of the advisability of excluding patients with epithelial dysplasia or a tobacco habit from studies on this issue.

    Oral lichen planus: controversies surrounding malignant transformation · 2008 · DOI

  • However, considering its high prevalence in India and the potential to undergo malignant transformation oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) has not been widely investigated with respect to lipid peroxidation and antioxidants.

    An estimation of serum malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and vitamin A in oral submucous fibrosis and its clinicopathologic correlation · 2007 · DOI

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146 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 2,419 Oral Health Pathology and Treatment papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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