Thank you for all your input, very helpful. I am concerned about this nothing in my mouth for 3 weeks as i want to be able to swallow etc ASAP(within reason). Also do not want to leave hospital with a trach but i'm butting heads with the surgeons. Do not feel like it's a team effort.

Stage 4 mandibular/alveolar ridge/lateral tongue Oct 2012. Left mandibulectomy,partial glossectomy and reconstruction of floor of mouth,mandible.
Now have positive anterior margin of bone and some positive margins of soft tissue.