The Dental Oncology Education Program was created in the spring of 1992, with funding from the Texas Cancer Council, now the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas. The DOEP steering committee includes representatives from the Texas Dental Association, the Texas Dental Hygiene Association, the Texas dental schools, the American Cancer Society, and other organizations working to prevent and control cancer of all types.

DOEP initiatives are directed at increasing the effectiveness of dental professionals in oral cancer prevention and early detection and management of oral sequelae of cancer therapy. Ideally, every dental office should be an oral cancer prevention and detection center. The DOEP seeks to unify cancer control efforts, provide speakers and information on oral cancer prevention and detection and assist in the dissemination of this information.