I should, genetically, have terrible teeth. Both my mother and father and my maternal grandmother had terrible dental problems - but many of those were probably caused by years of smoking.

I never smoked, I drink a lot of water and seltzer, no cola or sports drinks, and I do brush/floss.

BUT - I had head and neck radiation which damaged my salivary glands and logically, I should have terrible problems. 75% of people who have the radiation I had end up loosing a lot of their teeth within 5 years. It's been 12 years, and I haven't had as much as a cavity.

So - this impending surgery is something unexpected.

Thank you for your good wishes.