As I've read and re-read your response, Brian, I have one over-arching question: how much does dental care/hygiene play a role in oral cancer "coming back"? I mean, if I've got a bad tooth and things are out of sorts in that back area of my mouth as they have been, am I leaving myself open to having cells break down, leading to full-blown malignancy at some point? Or is it a lot more complicated than that? Does my question make sense? Thanks again...

for now, the waiting and wondering is the hardest part ...

Eric