The authors examine the different therapeutic approaches that can be used to treat the leukoplakia of the oral cavity by examining the literature and doing a critical evaluation. Great importance is attached to methods like CO2 laser therapy, to the treatments with natural or synthetic retinoids, and at last, but not least traditional surgery. These seem to be the most efficient treatments. The data reported seem to confirm the role of surgery (traditional, laser) and the validity of pharmacological therapy with retinoids. On the other hand it is not possible to find long term follow up with bleomycin, selenium and beta interferon, even if at the beginning they seemed to be arouse lively interest.