The incidence of oral and oropharyngeal cancer is rising in the UK, its aetiology is changing and early detection and referral saves lives. This article covers how and to what depth oral and oropharyngeal cancer is taught to dental students and other preregistration dental care professionals and examines the threats in the current climate to that education. It also discusses the knowledge of oral and oropharyngeal cancer among general dental practitioners and argues that further continuing professional development regarding the changing aetiology and epidemiology of oral and oropharyngeal cancer is desirable. The article concludes that current levels of education before registration must be maintained so that dentists and dental care professionals can take full advantage of continuing professional development and are able to detect oral and oropharyngeal cancer, refer for specialist treatment and provide appropriate preventive advice to their patients. In this way the potential of all dental professionals to save lives will be maintained.