Lymph node status is the single most important prognostic factor in oral cancer because lymph node involvement decreases overall survival by 50%. Appropriate management of the regional lymphatics, therefore, plays a central role in the treatment of the oral cancer patients. The purposes of this article are to present the history of neck dissections, including current neck dissection classification, describe the technique of the most common neck dissection applicable to oral cavity cancers, and discuss some of the complications associated with neck dissection. Finally, a brief review of elective neck dissection and sentinel lymph node biopsy will be presented. It is necessary that dentists have to be interested in oral cancer and these interest will make it possible to prevent oral cancer, detect it earlier and also improve the prognosis, survival and the quality of life of survivors.