The rehabilitation of patients with disabilities of the head and neck secondary to acquired and congenital defects continues to be a challenge. Today it is possible to restore most patients to nearly normal form and function, enabling them to lead useful and productive lives. However, successful outcomes require close interaction among many health care disciplines. Given the recent advances in maxillofacial prosthetics and reconstructive surgery, the pace of change in the rehabilitation of oral and facial defects has been far too slow. For example, free tissue transfers have been used throughout the world for the last 20 years to restore bony defects of the mandible, but far too many surgeons fail to understand that it is equally important to restore the bulk and contour of the tongue if the oral functions of speech, mastication, and control of saliva are to be restored.