Objective: The objective of this study was to analyse publications related to examination techniques that might improve the visualisation of suspicious lesions of the oral mucosa (ViziLite® system and VELscope® system) or that might facilitate the cytological identification of suspicious lesions (OralCDx®).Methods: A literature search was performed, using the PubMed database and the key words “brush biopsy”, “OralCDx”, “ViziLite” and “Velscope”, limiting the search to papers in English or Spanish published from 2002 to 2008.Results: According to the results of studies identified, the ViziLite® system has a sensitivity of 100% and specificity ranging from 0-14.2%, the VELscope® system has a sensitivity of 98-100% and specificity of 94-100% and the Oral CDx® system has a sensitivity of 71.4-100% and specificity of 32-100%.Conclusion: Clinical examination and histopathological confirmation with biopsy remain the gold standard for the detection of oral cancer. More randomised controlled studies are needed to confirm the positive cost-benefit relationship and the true usefulness of these “new diagnostic methods” in oral mucosal pathology.