My husband was told yesterday by his consultant (yes helen it is the LRI) that they are moving towards the obturator. no real explantion for this as they had previously told me that the decision would very much depend on the results of some bone samples they took during surgery and whether they showed any signs of cancer. This would mean he would need radio therapy and following this, the option to re-try the free flap would not be possible ever, as radiotherapy damanges the blood vessels permanently and it is a good blood supply which is the key to success. I have realised since contacting the forum how much I don't know, I am not aware of whether they have left any teeth and in fact what they have actually removed. My husband was in shock initally and was unable to discuss, and now he is recovering well I rarely see the doctors as they visit the patients outside of the visitors hours. My task now is to have a discussion with them and all your responses have at least pointed me in the direction of the right questions to ask. I am a bit nervous about the level of experience they are going to have with obturators as it is clearly not a treatment option which is not used very often by them.