You need not lose your teeth.

Dr. Bertrand R. Stuart DDS
EVERY normal person has teeth. So, if you do not have teeth, does it mean that you are abnormal? Of course not. The major function of a dentist is to make sure you do not lose your teeth. It is as simple as that. Now there are four reasons why people get in trouble with their teeth.The first reason is dental decay, the old culprit that we have long known to be a problem. Thank goodness, dental decay in general is on the decline. Even today we are making new discoveries about decay. There at lease thirty-two acid creating, decay causing bacteria and there are five more probable ones who lead a happy life in your mouth. That is a little scary, is it not?
The second reason is gum disease, also known as periodontitis, periodontal disease or chronic gingivitis. With what we know about gum disease today and its effect on the rest of the body, gum disease is something we can no longer ignore. It has the potential to lead to your demise, a mild sounding word meaning death.
Thirdly, there is stress. The stress caused by the way your teeth come together (occlusion) or body problems has an effect on your teeth. Your dental bite is also known as your dental occlusion. That is, how your teeth meet and function. Your occlusion is influenced by teeth positions, jaw joints ( known as temporomandibular joints), muscles of the face, head and neck, muscle activity, oral habits, your chewing mechanism and how much force you put on your teeth either from bite forces or clenching and grinding.
A mismatched bite can be deadly to the longevity of your natural teeth and any dental work. Few people know if they are clenching or grinding since it often happens while sleeping. Usually you dentist can help you discover this. The bite problem may give you no pain at all, yet accelerate wear on your teeth by ten to twenty times! The majority of people I have seen in my clinic who clench or grind their teeth have no idea they do it! When your bite is “off” it requires you to accommodate the mismatched position. I have seen long term headaches disappear when the bite forces are equalised and normalised for a person.
The fourth reason why we have dental problems has to do with our bodily system. Gastro-esophogeal Reflux Disease can breakdown the teeth rapidly, increase decay and cause a tooth loss epidemic. All manners of systemic conditions and medications can dry the mouth, alter the immune capacities and worsen gum disease and the ability to heal. Diabetes is among the worse culprits, increasing gum disease problems and enhancing tooth decay.
Comprehensive care is about dentistry that is predictable and long-lasting. It takes into account everything in your mouth and your life as factors in designing the right kind of dental care for you. It considers your medical and dental history as well as your present health, needs, wants and concerns. We know, for example, if we are going to treat you comprehensively, that we need to understand what your past dental experiences have been, be they good, bad or indifferent.
There is something for you to realise, if you have had a bad dental experience in the past. It does not have to be that way any more.