[241] The team, sedating Cleveland with nitrous oxide and ether, successfully removed parts of his upper left jaw and hard palate.[241] The size of the tumor and the extent of the operation left Cleveland's mouth disfigured.[242] During another surgery, Cleveland was fitted with a hard rubber dental prosthesis that corrected his speech and restored his appearance.[242] A cover story about the removal of two bad teeth kept the suspicious press placated.[243] Even when a newspaper story appeared giving details of the actual operation, the participating surgeons discounted the severity of what transpired during Cleveland's vacation.[242] In 1917, one of the surgeons present on the Oneida, Dr. William W. Keen, wrote an article detailing the operation.[244]
Cleveland enjoyed many years of life after the tumor was removed, and there was some debate as to whether it was actually malignant. Several doctors, including Dr. Keen, stated after Cleveland's death that the tumor was a carcinoma.[244]
Other suggestions included ameloblastoma[245] or a benign salivary mixed tumor (also known as a pleomorphic adenoma).