Oral Submucous Fibrosis: An Update and Overview on Classification Systems.

ABSTRACT

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder and crippling condition of oral mucosa and a devastating oral disease; however, it is avertable. It largely affects individuals of Southeast Asia and Indian subcontinent, where chewing of areca nut and its commercial preparation is high. Identification of this condition is so obvious that it is considered as a spot on diagnosis. Still, histopathological investigation remains the gold standard for diagnosis of OSMF. This review offers the collection of a range of classification methods based on clinical and/or histopathological features of OSMF from numerous databases. The advantages and drawbacks of these classifications supersede each other, leading to incomprehension. Need arises to have an accepted classification which can be widely used all over to steer clear of perplexity.