Emily, I think you make some very good points. Especially, I like your idea, that it might not be the end of the world to take a little moratorium on dental work. It so happens that, today, I have no soreness in my mouth. Where I had that molar extracted two weeks ago, has firmed up and really isn't bothering me. The wisdom tooth that was so sore is okay right now.

I, too, was wondering what all did humans do for the thousands of years prior to modern dentistry. Your comment just prompted a memory. When I was 23, a periodontist warned me that I might lose all my teeth by my the time I was 35. To prevent that I had to see him twice a year (in addition to seeing my regular dentist two other times every year.) I passed age 50 with all my teeth still in my head, despite foregoing the periodontist visits that another dentist told me were overkill.

Thoses rave reviews were sounding a bit canned to me too.