1Senior Lecturer, Dept of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, KIMSDU, School of Dental Sciences, Karad, Maharashtra, India
2Reader, Dept of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, School of Dental Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
3Senior Lecturer, Department of Orthodontia, BVUDC & H, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Oral submucous fibrosis (or OSF) is a chronic, complex, irreversible, highly potent precancerous condition characterized by juxtaepithelial inflammatory reaction and progressive fibrosis of the submucosal tissues. The etiology of the disease over the intervening years was thought to be multifactorial. Though the most important cause has been areca nut, other causes implicated include the consumption of large amounts of chillies, nutritional deficiency, genetic predisposition, and autoimmune. The aims of treatment are to reverse or ameliorate the signs and symptoms, stop disease progression, and in addition, to minimize the risk for malignant transformation. Over the years, a large number of varied treatment modalities have been proposed for OSF. Following is a review of all the important treatment modalities that have been proposed and used over the years for oral submucous fibrosis.
oral submucous fibrosis, areca nut, steroids, surgical flap
