The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) has released a statement in response to reports of dentists removing healthy, treatable teeth in favor of implants.
The AAE is concerned about reports of unnecessary extractions of healthy teeth, warning that removing a treatable tooth is an irreversible decision with serious impacts on a patient's oral health and quality of life, according to the statement.
The AAE advises patients to seek second opinions before agreeing to irreversible procedures and emphasizes that dental practitioners must prioritize patient health, upholding ethical principles like autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, justice, and honesty.
The AAE's mission is to preserve natural teeth and condemns practices that put profit over patient health. Patients should be fully informed about all treatment options, especially those that preserve natural teeth, according to the statement.
