Gum disease is a real b****!! I always thought my teeth were fine, no cavities or discoloration. One day I get a toothache, figure its a wisdom tooth, so I make an appointment. They take an x-ray, periodontal disease. I had to have full mouth surgery, bone graphs in between each tooth, at the cost of almost $14,000. I had to take a second mortgage, I am only 38 years old, now I go to the dentist every 4 months. Dentists may suck, but having no teeth would suck much more. In my case it is hereditary, the thing is I was sick from it for a long time and didn't even know it.