Every May, the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) takes time to celebrate the importance of saving natural teeth. With so much misinformation and anxiety around root canals, it’s important to communicate to your patients why their natural teeth are worth saving.
#1
When given a choice between tooth extraction and root canal treatment, always encourage your patients to choose to save their natural teeth. Extractions can often be more painful than the infection itself, and missing teeth can cause other teeth to shift, affecting their ability to properly chew and ruin their smile.
#2
Nothing artificial can replace the look or function of a natural tooth so it’s important to always consider root canal treatment as an option.
#3
Many root canal-treated teeth last a lifetime. Replacing an extracted tooth with a bridge or implant requires more time in treatment and may result in further procedures to neighboring teeth and supporting tissue.