The reason the chachamim say that a woman shouldn't walk out of a reshut hayachid on shabbat is because the woman might pull out the tooth (they weren't permanent back then) and show it off to others.

My question is, why are we worried that she'll show off her gold tooth? Shouldn't we assume that by taking it out she'll feel embarrassed, and therefore we KNOW that she won't take it out?

You mean shouldn't we assume that today?

Well, today, when we have fake teeth, they're permanent, so this wouldn't apply anyway. But I'm saying even in the time of the gemara, it seems that the women would willingly take out their golden/silver teeth to 'show it off'

You sure about that?

Why would she be embarassed? Until modern dentistry was developed I doubt too many people were embarassed to be missing a tooth or ten.

I guess that's true. Ok, thanks.