Statement from the American Association of Endodontists (AAE)

The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) is alarmed by recent reports of dental practitioners unnecessarily extracting healthy, treatable teeth in favor of dental implants. This practice is a serious violation of ethical standards and a betrayal of patient trust. Our mission is to preserve natural teeth whenever possible, and we strongly condemn any approach that prioritizes profit over the long-term health and well-being of patients.

The removal of a healthy or treatable tooth is a life-altering, irreversible decision with significant implications for a patient’s oral health and quality of life. Every patient deserves comprehensive information about all treatment options, especially those that preserve their natural teeth, which offer a superior foundation for lifelong oral health. 

We urge patients to seek second opinions and to be fully informed before agreeing to any irreversible dental procedure. At the AAE, we stand firm in our commitment to patient-centered care, ethical practice, and the preservation of natural teeth. We encourage all dental practitioners to remember that their responsibility is to their patients’ health above all else, and to practice guided by the ethical principles of patient autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and veracity.