Just to set to the record straight, and I am sure Brian is not suggesting I am a less than clean, motivated person, I used fluoride trays nightly, brushed and flossed after EVERY time I ate. In my case, however, years and years of expensive dental work could not make up for genetically poor teeth, which I managed by dint of dollars, to keep longer than anyone else in my otherwise healthy and long-lived family. My point was that if the odds are that a tooth or teeth will need to come out sooner or later, having the extraction(s) done prior to radiation will save you a lot of trouble, so sayeth the Voice of Experience. I do not subscribe to woulda/coulda/shoulda, but if I knew then what I know now...... Bottom line: have a frank discussion with a competent dentist. And good luck!