Dear Maureen Losing teeth in dreams often indicates feelings of losing your bite on life. You write that the future of your job is uncertain. As you are now in your fifties, this is a matter of concern. We could simply conclude that the dream reflects feelings of anxiety about your career. I suspect, though, that there is a more complex meaning.
Teeth are an important aspect of our self-image.
In your letter, you mention that you have always considered your teeth to be your best feature and are disturbed when your dentist remarks that you are looking long in the tooth. You go on to say that you find ageing difficult to deal with but try not to dwell on it, as it is a natural process. Yet your sensible, logical approach is evidently hiding feelings of great distress, which emerge in the dream. The arthritic gums symbolise the deteriorating belief system which, until now, has been the basis of the way you see yourself. Graceful acceptance of ageing can be a very hard nut to crack.