The authors review the literature on the role of human papilloma virus in premalignant and malignant oral tumours. They describe the biomolecular mechanisms of action and report the data of other authors regarding the incidence of the DNA of HPV in both normal mucosa of healthy subjects and in patients affected by disease, in tissues taken from benign and malignant lesions of the oral cavity. Having commented on these findings, they discuss the possible interference of analysis techniques, various kits and clinical conditions may have on the final results.