29 May 2026

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AAE Survey Highlights Importance of Saving Teeth

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Endodontists Share Tips to Save a Tooth in an Emergency During Save Your Tooth Month

Fewer than half of Americans (46%) know that a knocked-out tooth can often be saved with prompt care, according to a new national survey of 2,000 adults, even as most say they would prefer to keep their natural teeth. In fact, nearly 7 in 10 respondents said saving a natural tooth whenever possible is usually the best option.

More than 5 million teeth are knocked out each year in the United States among children and adults. Many incidents involve children under age 10 due to sports injuries and everyday accidents. Yet the survey, conducted by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), indicates many people may not recognize how quickly action is needed in these situations. Just 27% of respondents correctly identified a 30-minute window as critical to improving the chances of saving a knocked-out tooth, while nearly a quarter (24%) said they were unsure how quickly to act.

“As endodontists, our specialized dental training in saving natural teeth can help not only patients experiencing a knocked-out tooth, but also those suffering from severe tooth pain or infection, as well as chipped or cracked teeth,” said W. Craig Noblett, DDS, MS, president of the American Association of Endodontists. “While an extraction might seem like a logical quick fix, a root canal performed by an endodontist is a virtually painless procedure that can save a tooth and preserve the integrity of surrounding teeth, which can shift due to an extraction.”

While root canals are often misunderstood due to online misinformation or patients’ overall misconceptions about the procedure, root canal treatment is an often straightforward procedure to relieve dental pain and save natural teeth. Patients typically need a root canal when there is inflammation or infection in the roots of a tooth. During root canal treatment , an endodontist who specializes in such treatment carefully removes the pulp inside the tooth, cleans, disinfects and shapes the root canals, and places a filling to seal the space.

To help people understand the urgency of saving a knocked-out tooth, Dr. Noblett offered these four important steps to save a tooth in an emergency:

The survey also confirms that, despite the trend toward presenting a perfect smile through cosmetically enhanced pearly whites, 44% of those surveyed said keeping natural teeth healthy matters more than having perfectly white or cosmetically attractive teeth. Meanwhile, 42% indicated that both factors matter equally, and only 6% rated attractive teeth above naturally healthy teeth.

“It is very encouraging that people feel so strongly about keeping their natural teeth, which is why getting dental health information from a dental professional — particularly about procedures such as root canals when a problem arises — is vital,” said Dr. Noblett. “Our survey found that about 78% agreed that they would do almost anything to avoid losing one of their natural teeth.”

Dr. Noblett added that the best way to preserve natural teeth is to be proactive in caring for them through routine dental checkups and daily oral health practices, including proper brushing and flossing. In addition, seeking dental care quickly when a problem is suspected can lead to better outcomes rather than delaying care.

About the American Association of Endodontists

The American Association of Endodontists is a dental specialty organization recognized by the American Dental Association and serves as a global resource for knowledge, research, and education for the profession, members, and the public. Representing more than 8,000 members worldwide, endodontists are specialists in saving teeth and have additional training and use specialized techniques and technologies to perform root canal treatment, diagnose and treat tooth pain, and preserve natural teeth. Patients can find an endodontist in their area by visiting the AAE website at Find My Endodontist – American Association of Endodontists .

The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) commissioned Atomik Research, a research agency, to conduct an online survey of 2,000 adults throughout the United States. The margin of error is +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence level of 95%. Fieldwork took place between April 3 and April 8, 2026.

Source: https://www.dentalcetoday.com/