AAE Advocacy Achieves Record-Breaking Success with Save Your Tooth Month Campaign
In May, the AAE made history with its most successful Save Your Tooth Month advocacy campaign, tripling previous results! Thanks to the collective efforts of our dedicated AAE members and staff, we secured 12 proclamations from governors and state lawmakers nationwide, educating our nation’s leaders and the public about the importance of saving their natural teeth.
The AAE launched a widespread Save Your Tooth Month campaign, directly targeting state governors across the country and encouraging them to recognize the vital work of our specialty in promoting quality oral health. Additionally, the AAE initiated a grassroots action campaign in every state, enabling AAE members to mobilize their lawmakers quickly and effectively to introduce Save Your Tooth Month proclamations or resolutions. To strengthen public awareness around the advocacy campaign, the AAE sent a press release and deployed a social media campaign as part of their greater Worth Saving Initiative.
Thank you to our Save Your Tooth Month advocates for their critical outreach to lawmakers, helping the AAE educate the public about the value of saving natural teeth and seeking quality endodontic care. We owe our success to the dedication of our members and their unwavering support for our advocacy efforts!
Benedict Bachstein, DMD (New Jersey)
Monique Belin, DMD, MS (Florida)
Keith Boyer, DDS (California)
Christopher Glass, DMD (Georgia)
Steven Katz, DDS, MS (Ohio)
Katie Kickertz, DDS (North Carolina)
Leslie Malueg, DMD (North Carolina)
Elizabeth Perry, DMD (Massachusetts)
William Powell, DMD (Tennessee)
Alison St. Paul, DMD, MS (Georgia)
Susan Wood, DDS (Arizona)
Save Your Tooth Month was a resounding victory in many other ways as well – with a Satellite Media Tour featuring AAE President Dr. Flake which took place in New York City and garnered 20 TV and radio interviews, and yielded a total audience of more than 20 million! The Satellite Media Tour also included such large markets as New York City (WPIX) and Los Angeles (KABC). Additionally, our media pitching efforts won us an additional media opportunity outside of the Satellite Media Tour, on the show Coffee With America.
The media moments didn’t end there. Early in May, Dr. Flake joined several AAE members along with AAE staff in the Big Apple to catch the attention of the TODAY Show and view our Times Square billboard.
In other Save Your Tooth Month news, members displayed Endo Strong celebrations on social media, leading the AAE to crown a new Class of Save Your Tooth Month “endofluencers”, who will be recognized in a future issue of the Communique for their social media prowess.
A Proclamation on Save Your Tooth Month
WHEREAS, Maintaining proper oral hygiene and preserving natural teeth are essential for optimal oral health, which impacts patients’ overall health and well-being; and
WHEREAS, Each year, over 15 million teeth are preserved through endodontic treatments, including root canal procedures, emphasizing the importance of saving natural teeth for improved appearance and maintaining essential functions such as chewing and speech; and
WHEREAS, Endodontists, as highly skilled dental specialists, excel in diagnosing and treating tooth pain and infection through life-changing endodontic procedures, such as root canals, trauma dental injuries, vital pulp therapy, and apicoectomy, thereby safeguarding patients’ natural teeth. With three additional years of training post dental school, endodontists utilize advanced technology and specialized care to best treat tooth pain and infection; and
WHEREAS, Endodontists dedicate their dental practice exclusively to endodontic treatments, performing an average of 25 root canal treatments weekly. They frequently collaborate with general dentists to ensure comprehensive dental care and employ a specialized approach that leads to better health outcomes and swift recovery for patients; and
WHEREAS, Teeth serve as vital components for nutrition, emotional expression, and overall health indicators. Neglecting oral hygiene can lead to various health complications. Regular dental visits, thorough brushing and flossing twice daily, and avoiding cavity-causing foods and habits are essential steps in maintaining gum, teeth, and mouth health; and
RESOLVED BY, the [STATE LEGISLATURE], that we hereby designate May 2024 as “Save Your Tooth Month,” acknowledging endodontists as leaders dedicated to saving patients’ natural teeth and encourage the citizens of Washington to practice good oral hygiene to save their natural teeth.