Oral leukoplakia: A review and its update

Oral leukoplakia (OL) is the most common potentially malignant disorder of the oral mucosa. The etiological role of Candida in leukoplakia has been a subject of debate in recent years. Candida invasion has been suggested to be a significant risk factor for malignant transformation of OL and also it may be associated with certain clinical characteristics such as lesion type, size, and site, dysplasia, and tobacco use. Several studies showed that the greater risk of malignant change in women than men. Finally, the management of this common condition remains a variable and includes local, topical, and systemic therapies such as anti-oxidants, carotenoids, and antifungal therapies.