Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are a set of disorders that affect the oral mucosa and are associated with increased malignant risk. During their progression, visible alterations in the color or thickness of the oral mucosa can be found, and these changes may be observed throughout the oral examination.
Their clinical manifestations vary, and their natural history is poorly described. In clinical practice, the most frequent OPMD is oral leukoplakia. When stratifying their risk, the presence of red areas, a size greater than 200 mm2, and a higher grade of dysplasia in the pathology report are taken into consideration. Up to one-third of OPMDs can progress to squamous cell carcinoma.