Vicki
I'm not sure about the metal in your mouth, but I was in an auto accident w/a drunk driver about 10 years before my cancer. At that time they wired my mouth closed for about 6 weeks for all the broken bones in my mouth to heal. It was just like any broken bone. If you don't use it, it will become stiff, and you will need to have therapy to help loosen things up and work again. I had utrasound waves used on my joints in my face and then hot towels to help loosen those joints, and just try like crazy to open as wide as possible. I would just keep bugging your therapists for extra help.