Reconstruction techniques in oral carcinoma

Resection of oral carcinoma can cause serious problems with speech, mastication and swallowing. Several methods of reconstruction of the defects caused by tumour resection are available to the modern oral and maxillofacial/head and neck surgeon, some of which are more effective and aesthetically pleasing than others. This article discusses the methods available, their advantages and disadvantages, and gives guidelines on the circumstances in which each is ideally used.