Why We Lose Our Teeth Too Early—and Why It’s High Time We Started Taking Dentistry Seriously

I admit, selecting a topic for my first panel, or rather, my first public discussion beyond my clinic, proved far more difficult than I thought. The answer, however, came from the most common of sources: a family chat.

A few days ago, while having a chat with my in-laws, they mentioned something that I hear all too frequently in my practice—the fact that most of their teeth have been extracted at a young age. Today, they find it difficult to chew, speak, or even smile. It was not merely the fact that they lost teeth that caught my attention, but that they accept this fact so matter-of-factly, as if this was simply what one can expect from turning old.

In the past, conservative dental care was scarce. If someone needed dental treatment, the most common choice was either an extraction or nothing at all. This meant that people lost teeth that could still be conserved. At that time, dentistry was all about extraction and not conservation. Teeth were not an investment worth spending money on. After all, we all have 32 teeth; losing a few would not make any difference.

It turns out, a great deal.

Times, thankfully, are changing. Aesthetics have become inextricably linked to lifestyle. A healthy, positive smile can work wonders for how the world sees you—and for that matter, how you see yourself too. It is no hidden fact that movie stars around the world, from Cristiano Ronaldo to Priyanka Chopra, have already made huge investments in dental aids for aesthetic purposes. Veneers, crowns, dental aligners—are these not reserved for the elite? These tools have now become an adjunct for not only improving dental function but also boosting the confidence to face the world.

In the series of upcoming blog posts, I intend to talk about these procedures in an honest manner—not to glorify them, but to demystify them. The purpose of these blog posts lies in dispersing awareness about dental health among the general public. My understanding is that the dental field in general tends to function like an inward-looking, sealed box. Dentists share memes, reels, and educational nuggets, but mostly among themselves. What does awareness gain, if this awareness somehow fails to reach the concerned public?

The reality is, each one of us has dental problems. And in light of what my father always tells me, “You only have 32 teeth in your mouth; eventually, at least one of them will be problematic.” What makes it more disturbing is that most people do not know the reason for, much less the solution to, this issue. And to add to this problem are the deeply-rooted fear, stories, and myths linked to dental care; no wonder this situation continues to be more problematic. During my time in dental school, for instance, no one can tell how many times patients asked me if having a tooth extracted could lead to problems with eyesight. It is astonishing, and, at the same time, scary, to know that all these myths could go on for generations, while real awareness lingers.

Ironically, we look to the West to follow in many other aspects of life, but in the area of preventive and routine dentistry, they outperform us. People in the West visit dentists regularly and without fear. Orthodontics work is a very common practice, and wearing braces in the West is normalized from a very young age. But in our popular culture, wearing braces is something that needs to be laughed at, and this is a very sad trend. I’m positive that patients aren’t the ones who benefit from this.

Enough ranting for Day One.

For purposes of introduction, I hold a master’s degree in Oral Medicine and Radiology. I practice dentistry in my clinic along with my brother. I come from a family with my dad being a general surgeon. My mom is a retired matron from a government hospital. It is expected that most of our family talks are related to medicine, health-related concerns, lifestyle practices, as well as spiritual topics. It is just fitting that we carry our talks beyond our dining tables. By means of this column, my goal is to demystify and destress the notion of dental health. If my work can empower even one of my readers with a better understanding or with decreased anxiety toward the dentist and the experience of dental visits, it will have made my mission worthwhile. Your questions, ideas, and areas of concern are welcome.

By Dr. Monalisa Ghosh, Dental Surgeon