My four implants have caused me no trouble at all. Placed in my right lower jaw, they march from the back of my mouth to the centre. On top of them is screwed a lower teeth prosthesis. The implants will have been in place for two years come November.

This is good news because I signed onto a risk of osteradionecrosis if the implants didn’t settle and caused bone death. I had the prosthesis unscrewed and filed down a month ago and there was no issue with my jaw. These lower “teeth” are so much more comfortable than the partial metal denture I wear on my top jaw.

The vision for my mouth that my prosthodontist came up with about three years ago, probably with the consensus of his department, has not come to pass however. The plan was to remove the unhealthy radiation-affected lower teeth and leave four strong upper teeth to attach a plate to. Insert four implants into the lower jaw and screw a lower teeth prosthesis onto it. The lower prosthesis would be cantilevered to the left to create a full bottom implant anchored set of bottom teeth.

Having a full set of bottom teeth would push my nerve-severed left lower lip out and stop me looking crooked and drooling!

How has it worked out?
I’ve had two further cancers since the plan was hatched in 2019/20 – just before Covid. In 2021 I had one of my biggest tumours, a 2 cm lesion in my throat. And earlier this year a very small lesion in my right cheek. This has hindered progress of course.

The biggest win has been a straighter mouth. That is gold. But the dribbling and drooling is worse because the bottom prosthesis is a little high on the side of the limp lip and saliva pools there. When I go to speak it comes out. I always have to have a cloth in my hand to hold to my mouth when I start speaking. Once I’m underway I can keep going without a cloth for a while. Some days it is very bad and I have trouble speaking. Other days it is considerably better.

I have no idea how I have maintained such a vigorous flow of saliva after so much surgery! I feel that it’s a bit sticky and find a mosturising spray or gel like Oral 7 helps me to speak. Occasionally, usually at night, I will suffer from dry mouth but most of the time I’m the opposite.

Another disappointing aspect of the realised plan is that the upper metal denture is uncomfortable. It’s not too bad if I have it on and don’t speak but it’s hard to speak with and by the end of a long day it’s murder. I can’t wear it all the time. Sitting here typing this I’m, perfectly comforable but when I put the plate in and go out socialising it’s really hard at times.

At first I thought I might be able to eat with all the hardware inserted but it’s just too hard. I can’t move food back with my tongue and since the last surgery my taste is worse than ever – soup and smoothies are my destiny.

The plate can’t be adjusted until I have one of my remaining top teeth filled – getting it filled has been problematic. The site of the hole (which was sealed some time ago) is well nigh inaccessible.

If I am deeply engaged in what I’m doing I can forget my teeth – I can even deliver a PowerPoint once my mouth has warmed up – but there are those times when I’m having coffee, holding a cloth to stop me dribbling and trying to talk clearly so my elderly peers who inevitably have some hearing loss can understand me when it’s all a bit too much.

I count myself lucky that I do have friends and acquaintances who put up with me and my cloths and my dribbling! I try to make myself extra helpful so I make up for my weird defects. Drooling is not a socially friendly experience.

Next steps? I’m going to ask for Botox for the drooling. The prosthodontist might adjust my top and bottom plate “when the tissues have settled down”.

This is all very hard for me – I haven’t shared a family meal properly since the surgery in 2014 and things have only got worse – but I’ve cobbled together quite a nice life for myself with all my volunteering and community work – and my family. Having passionate interests like the environment, politics, literature, HNC, people … this keeps me in the throes of life. Things could be worse and I thank the gods for the blessings I possess right now.