Este documento enfatiza la importancia de la deteccion temprana del cancer oral como herramienta de prevencion y control. Se inicia documentando la epidemiologia y relevancia en salud publica de este tipo de cancer mediante la evidencia cientifica que demuestra que no es estadisticamente significativo comparado con otros canceres. El cancer oral es mas agresivo y letal que otros tumores, ademas posee multiples factores etiologicos, alto potencial metastatico, un efecto acumulativo en el tiempo y compromete la estetica y funcion del paciente. Posteriormente se ratifica que el cancer oral debe ser prevenido y controlado mediante la instruccion sobre factores de riesgo, deteccion temprana y la suficiente actualizacion epidemiologica y clinica. Luego se reflexiona acerca de la importancia de la deteccion precoz del cancer oral sobre todo cuando es persistente la falta de educacion y de prevencion en la ensenanza de los odontologos, quienes suelen detectarlo clinicamente en etapas tardias. Finalmente, se cuestiona la insatisfactoria prevencion primaria y secundaria del cancer oral. ABSTRACT. This paper emphasizes the importance of early detection of oral cancer as a prevention and control tool. It begins documenting the epidemiology and relevance in public health of this type of cancer by means of scientific evidence which demonstrates that, compared to other types of cancer, it is not statistically significant. Oral cancer is more aggressive and lethal than other tumors. Besides, it has multiple etiologic factors, high metastasis potential, cumulative effect with time and, it compromises esthetics and function of the patients. Subsequently, it ratifies that oral cancer must be prevented and controlled by means of instruction on risk factors, early detection and sufficient clinical and epidemiological update. The last part of the paper analyzes the importance of early diagnosis of oral cancer especially considering the persistent lack of teaching in education and prevention in most dental schools; dentists usually diagnose oral cancer in the late stages. Finally, the unsatisfactory primary and secondary prevention of oral cancer is questioned.