Age-related Salivary Flow Rate Changes in Controls and Patients with Oral Lichen Planus

Abstract

Unstimulated whole saliva and stimulated whole, parotid, and labial minor gland saliva samples were collected from 25 patients with oral lichen planus and from 25 age- and sex-matched controls between the ages of 25 and 87 years. All subjects did not smoke or chew tobacco, had no serious illnesses, and were unmedicated. There were no significant differences in flow rates between the two groups. However, a significant age-related decrease in labial minor gland saliva flow rate was found in both the lichen planus group and the controls. Flow rates of unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva and stimulated parotid saliva were not related to age in either group.