Possible Meanings - life and dreams

So, I have had reoccurring dreams about losing my teeth.
Most often, they are so realistic. I feel myself actually spitting out all of my teeth. I hold them in my hands; I stare at them thinking "well, that can't be good." I wake up feeling like I should take better care of them or suffer from dentures for the rest of my life (much like my father).

Now, in dream interpretation, teeth hold lots of symbolism. Everything from physical attractiveness, personal image, self esteem, telling lies or monetary worries. Possibly even family or friends health.

But this last dream I had left me with a FAR different feeling. This last dream I had didn't involve all of my teeth falling out. I had just ONE tooth fall out. I wiggled when I put my tongue to it. I pulled it out with my fingers. I had a raw - somewhat sensitive - spot where my tooth came out. I felt the tooth underneath, pushing it's way to the surface.
Now, I can really understand that the mind is a powerful thing; that memories from childhood with always pop back up. Maybe that is what this was. My brain recalling very specifically the memory of loosing my teeth.

But my own interpretation? That I must lose something before another, bigger, brighter, better thing can come in to my life. I must shed this old version that suited my purposes for long enough - and come in to my own. After all, I'm hiding just under the surface and growth comes naturally in this world.

Now, WHAT is hiding under the surface and WHAT am I to shed?
I wish I could just read a book and understand where life is supposed to take us.

School is teaching me to be wary of my boundaries and assumptions. It challenges me to think of my future in ways I did not expect and it also make me question my future.

My life outside of school and work has also been making me question my life choices and style.
While I enjoy being social, I find myself wondering where my behavior is stemming from and why I feel the drive to do the things I do.
Where am I going?
Out of all the things in front of me (and there are so many things! Shiny things!) which am I supposed to pay the most attention to? And I find myself wondering and weighing the pay off of those things. That makes me feel pretty lame to weigh the "pay off" of my passions - but ultimately, I need to earn an income of some kind to keep doing what I love.
If I want to help and heal, how can I make it my own? I get a joy from being personal - I am a very intimate person. I want to be REAL with everyone, but have a hard time determining who is ready for it and who I am over loading. While it may not be my place to be concerned with everyone else and how they will respond to me, I DO care. But I suppose that is something I could let go of over time.