With high rates of morbidity and death, oral cancer is a major worldwide health concern. Improving patient outcomes requires early identification and cutting-edge treatment choices. The epidemiology, aetiology, and pathophysiology of oral cancer are examined in this review, with a focus on the significance of early identification using routine screening and sophisticated diagnostic methods. Because oral cancer can show in a variety of clinical ways, healthcare professionals must be extremely aware of this. Contemporary therapeutic approaches, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, are successful but frequently have serious side effects. Novel advanced treatments like photodynamic therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and robotic surgery provide fresh hope for improved care. Even with these developments, problems such drug resistance, side effects, delayed diagnosis, healthcare inequities, and cost burdens still exist. A multidisciplinary strategy combining medical professionals, researchers, legislators, and patient advocacy organisations is needed to address these issues. To provide more individualised and efficient treatments, additional research and development in the fields of genomics, liquid biopsies, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology is required. In order to get over these challenges and enhance the prognosis for patients with oral cancer, this study emphasises the importance of comprehensive patient care and teamwork.