Nowadays the exclusive intraoral approach is standard in the operative treatment of mandibular fractures. However there is still scepticism in the selection of the intraoral approach for mandibular reconstruction. Between 1980 and 1992 we performed in 21 patients mandibular reconstructions by rib or iliac bone grafts after resections of benign tumors in the mandible. One transplant was lost, the remaining transplants were incorporated without problems. According to our results the exclusive intraoral approach of primary mandibular reconstructions by free bone-grafts after removal is a reliable procedure.