INTRODUCTION: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common chronic inflammatory and a potentially malignant disorder of oral mucosa. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α) has been pointed as a key cytokine in OLP. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the salivary levels of TNF- α were changed in patients with erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP). METHODOLOGY: A total of fourteen cases of EOLP with and without dysplastic changes, along with seven age matched healthy controls were included in this study. Samples of unstimulated saliva was collected, centrifuged and analyzed with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in the salivary levels of TNF- α in patients of the two study groups when compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: TNF- α plays a role in pathogenesis and carcinogenesis of EOLP, and can be used as a useful marker and indicator for subjects at high risk to develop OLP as a potentially malignant lesion.