Saving Natural Teeth
Americans have strong negative feelings about losing their natural teeth
DID YOU KNOW?
More than 5 million teeth are knocked out every year. With proper emergency action, a tooth that has been entirely knocked out of its socket often can be successfully replanted and last for years.
Source: American Association of Endodontists
Although it is possible in some cases to replace an extracted tooth with an implant or bridgework, Americans have strong negative feelings about losing their natural teeth.
- In a recent American Association of Endodontists (AAE) survey, 76 percent of participants said they would prefer a root canal to tooth extraction.
- Nearly a third would not sell a healthy front tooth for any amount of money.
- Most people are not aware that root canal treatment is a viable alternative to tooth extraction.
- Older individuals are much more likely than younger individuals to have experienced a tooth extraction.
- Women are more likely than men to have had a tooth extraction.
- More than half (58 percent) of those who have had a tooth extracted did not replace it with anything; the remainder replaced the tooth with a bridge (17 percent), dentures (12 percent) or an implant (8 percent).
- Artificial teeth can limit your ability to chew certain foods necessary to maintaining a balanced diet.