Classification of Oral Submucous Fibrosis: An Update

OSMF is a chronic distressing potentially malignant disease of the oral cavity. Although the etiology is considered multifactorial, it is commonly associated with areca nut chewing. OSMF is also postulated to have a malignant transformation rate of 7.6%. Many researchers have proposed different classifications systems encompassing clinical and histological features to grade OSMF which have their own potential advantages and disadvantages. A thorough insight of all such proposed classifications to date is essential for the clinicians to adopt a specific classification system to grade the clinical severity of the disease so that the treatment plan could be tailor made and the prognosis of the patients at every visit can be assessed. This review would elucidate various classification systems proposed for grading OSMF.