A popular misconception about oral care is that it’s primarily about making teeth look as attractive as possible. Advertisements for tooth whiteners and veneers abound, but the fact is that while appearance is important, there’s a lot more to oral care than just having a mouth full of straight, pearly white teeth. Dr. Brett Langston has spent his career as a prosthodontist – a dentist who specializes in the restoration of oral health and replacement of missing teeth-solving some of the most challenging dental problems. He feels strongly that most people need to understand that oral health affects general health and wants to encourage people to look beyond appearances and learn to take proper care of their teeth and gums. There’s more to it than a quick brush in the morning and evening or choosing a magic toothpaste. In this book, Dr. Langston will share some of his vast knowledge of proper oral care and reveal that by making a few simple lifestyle changes, people can increase their chances of avoiding pain, tooth loss, and embarrassment. He shares amazing, heartwarming, and sometimes funny stories from his decades of working in the field of prosthodontics. Meet a young man who thought he’d never find love because of the state of his teeth, and a woman who was too embarrassed to sing because of her ill-fitting dentures. Dr. Langston not only changed these people’s lives but also taught them how to maintain good oral health for the long haul. Dr. Langston will also introduce some modern solutions to age-old problems and walk you through your many options when it comes to tooth repair, reconstruction, and maintenance. In language understandable to those outside the field of dentistry, he will show you that progress in the world of oral health has very much kept up with modern technology and will amaze you with what is being done in the field. He believes that there are no hopeless cases when it comes to dental reconstruction. “This is all very nice” we hear you say. “But I am afraid of the dentist and that’s why I don’t go.” In the book, Dr. Langston will gently encourage you to put aside your fears and make that dental appointment. Pain management has come a long way in the past several decades, and you don’t have to be afraid anymore. Once you understand the importance of good oral care to your overall health and what your options are, Dr. Langston and dental professionals like him are waiting to put you at ease and take care of you. Armed with the information you’ve learned from this book, you can work closely with your dentist to create a care plan that will improve your life and both your oral and general health.