Purpose The spread of oral cancer awareness and screening attitude, among dental professionals, has not been enough in the past decades. Much of today‘s education is based upon traditional didactic approaches, which are inefficient for the learning needs of general dental practitioners (GDPs) and dental surgeons (DDSs). The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the educational priorities of Oral Cancer experts, GDPs and DDSs with regards to diagnosis, psychological approach, and management of oral cancer patients. Material and methods A sample of 25 Italian Oral Cancer experts composed a Delphi panel to identify and to rate those they thought to be the educational priorities for GDPs and DDSs; the questionnaire was then addressed to 50 GDPs and 50 DDSs asking them to rate the priorities identified by the experts. The results from the three surveys were then compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test, while the pairwise comparisons were made through the Mann–Whitney U test. Results There was a great participation of experts (21/25) to the study, whilst an extremely low number of GDPs and DDSs (22/50 for both groups) accepted to respond to the survey. The Experts, GDPs and DDSs agreed on most of the 51 issues, but there were statistically significant differences on 11 of the proposed items concerning educational and training needs, diagnostic and emotional difficulties. GDPs and DDSs ask for a more interactive education, for the adoption of a problem-based learning approach, to attend annual mandatory oral cancer meetings. Conclusions There is a clear need to reconsider the traditional education about oral cancer, in a process that involves National Health care Services, National Dental Associations and Universities.