The Harley Street Centre for Endodontics in London has launched the Saving Teeth Awareness Campaign for consumers, the clinic announced.
Recent figures for the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) show that 2 million teeth were removed last year, but only approximately half a million root treatments were undertaken, according to the clinic.
The campaign's key messages are:
- Saving a tooth is, where possible, better for oral health.
- A well root-treated tooth covered with a crown can survive for many years.
- If a tooth becomes infected and left untreated, bone loss can occur.
Backing for the Saving Teeth Awareness Campaign was spearheaded by Julian Webber, BDS, and his colleague, Trevor Lamb, BDS. Both are endodontic specialists.
"While an extraction is sometimes inevitable, it should not be regarded as the easy option," Dr. Webber stated in a press release.
The campaign would like to see the NHS recognize and remunerate the additional skills and costly equipment used by specialists and dentists with additional training, he added.
