What to Expect During Oral Cancer Surgery

Posted on 1/10/2019 by Alyssa O'Steen

Finding out you have cancer is scary. It is scary because you don't know what to expect. The good news when it comes to oral cancer is there are ways to treat it. With the right care, it is possible to have a complete recovery.

That can relieve some of the stress that people get from the diagnosis of oral cancer but learning what to expect from oral cancer surgery can remove more of the fear.

Types of Oral Cancer Surgery

There are many different types of surgery when it comes to cancer treatment. The type of surgery depends on how advanced the cancer is and where it is. A doctor can choose some of the following types of surgery for oral cancer.

•	Tumor resection - This surgery involves the removal of the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue. If the tumor is small, it may be a relatively minor surgery.
•	Micrographic surgery - This is a procedure for cancer found on the lip. It involves removing thin slices of the lip until the entire tumor is gone.
•	Mandible resection - When the tumor is found in the jaw, it may require removing part of all the mandible or the jaw bone.
•	Glossectomy - This procedure is for cancer of the tongue. It involves removing part of the tongue.

Other types of surgery can help remove the tumors found in the neck, the larynx and the hard palate.

After the Surgery
Almost all the surgeries will work to remove any cancerous tumors that are found. That can lead to a need for some form of reconstructive surgery. Soft tissue skin grafts and bone grafts can help promote the growth of new tissue and bone to replace anything that the surgery took away.

The goal of any surgery for oral cancer is to remove the threat of cancer first and then repair the damage the cancer caused. It can happen with some time and patience.

Contact our offices to schedule an appointment to find out more about this and any other oral health issue.

Dr. Shillingburg and the amazing team at DFW Oral Surgeons are proud to provide exceptional care, including wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, and many other services to residents in and around Argyle, Bartonville, Highland Village, Lantana, Double Oak, South Denton, Denton County, and surrounding areas. Not only has Dr. Shillingburg won best Oral Surgeon of Denton County in 2017 and 2018. He has over 10 years of experience treating patients in his state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center in Flower Mound, TX.

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John C. Shillingburg, DDS

Certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Best of Denton County 2019 Committed to Community Excellence - DFW Oral Surgeons

Dr. John Shillingburg is proud to be a native Texan. After graduating from Texas A&M with a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science and from the University of Texas Dental School in San Antonio with a doctorate degree in dental science, Dr. Shillingburg completed a general dentistry residency at Fort Carson in Colorado. Read more.

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John C. Shillingburg, DDS in Flower Mound, TX

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