Surgical Approaches to the Oral Cavity

The preponderance of surgery performed on the oral cavity utilizes a transoral route, such as for dental diseases, chronic tonsillitis, and sleep apnea. However, malignancy will be the primary focus of this chapter, although benign tumors such as ameloblastomas and some congenital and/or traumatic abnormalities can also require an involved surgical exposure. Approximately 70% of the neoplasms occur in dependent portions of the oral cavity, the regions most commonly bathed with food, saliva and tobacco residue. Although this chapter focuses on the surgical approaches to the oral cavity in a framework of the final reconstruction, it is necessary to appreciate the indications for certain approaches based on the primary treatment of a particular disease process.