im thinking the string is the list of things your feel you have to do,. hence very long.

by having to take it all in then regurgitate it its saying that you need to asses your priorities.
so do you really need this or that in your life at the moment.

i feel this dream is making you take stock of your life at the moment and really asses where your at.

the teeth falling out.
hmm the old saying liek pulling teeth?
its going to be a difficult process and only you hold the answer, hence your nurse avoiding the question.

this si really as i see it a mental acknowledgement that you have alot going on and you need to re focus on the important things, yes it will be difficult but was the string shorter when you took it out? if yes then i think once you list what you have going on and re asses it will be smaller and clearer