Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is relatively uncommon in patients less than 40 years of age. Of 411 patients with oral SCC treated, 27 patients (6.6%) were less than 40 years of age. These cases of young age were compared with those of older age concerning their clinical characteristics and outcome. The five-year overall survival rate was 92.6% for young and 68.8% for older patients, respectively (P = 0.027). Using logistic multivariate regression analysis, including age, gender, primary site, TN category and treatment modality, only TN category and treatment modality were significant and independent predictive variables for recurrence, but age was not (P < 0.05). It was concluded that better prognosis observed in young patients with oral SCC was significantly determined by their characteristics of TN category and treatment modality, but not by their age.