Malka, I can't believe that we are EXACTLY the same age....so I have Medicare questions also. I will ask my friend about insurance coverage, though she is nowhere near Medicare age.

Minnie...the paddle-shaped scar was on my friend who had a case like mine, with a maxillary repair needed, along with a palatal reconstruction. Perhaps there is some difference in the need for skin and tissue in that case.

I don't know how much new tissue is needed for reconstruction of the mandibular defect. Perhaps existing oral tissue is sufficient to cover the implanted bone.

I soso much appreciate everybody's input. I also received a helpful email from "Dragan"...Wayne. His past posts can be accessed through the Search feature here.

So far, nobody here has had a maxillary reconstruction, but still your responses are quite helpful to me, since the process is much the same.

XO