Evidence-Based Medicine Research For Oral Submucous Fibrosis Treatment

This study provides a reference for the clinical treatment of Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases for systematic reviews or meta-analyses of OSF treatment in past ten years (2014.7-2024.6), and evaluated the level of evidence using the Cochrane evaluation method. Current evidence-based medical studies have shown that pentoxifylline, hyaluronidase combined with steroids, lycopene, curcumin, salvia miltiorrhiza combined with steroids, aloe vera are effective in improving maximum mouth opening and burning sensation in patients with OSF. The evidence levels of hyaluronidase combined with steroids, lycopene, curcumin, salvia miltiorrhiza combined with steroids, aloe vera were all A, and pentoxifylline was B. Lycopene was more effective than other positive drugs in improving maximum mouth opening in patients; Aloe vera was more effective than positive drugs in improving burning sensation in the early stage of treatment. In addition, antioxidants are good for improving the symptoms of OSF and have a promising application. Lasers can improve maximum mouth opening, pain and other symptoms of OSF, but it is costly and level of evidence is C. Surgery is effective in improving the maximum mouth opening symptom of OSF, but it is traumatic and level of evidence is C. The evidence levels of hyaluronidase combined with steroids, lycopene, curcumin, salvia miltiorrhiza combined with steroids, and aloe vera are all A, and pentoxifylline is B. The evidence levels of lasers and surgery are C.