Teeth may need to be extracted for several reasons, most of them related to your overall health. While wisdom teeth and injuries are some of the more common instances when your tooth may need to be removed, other factors can lead your dentist to recommend extraction, such as:
Damaged Tooth. A tooth might be chipped, cracked, or damaged severely as a result of an accident or injury. While repairing and restoring your natural teeth is always the goal, severe damage may not be treatable and may necessitate a tooth extraction procedure.
A crowded gumline. As children develop, the gumline might become crowded, causing teeth to come in crooked or not erupt at all. Tooth extraction and orthodontic care may be the only solution to help facilitate a straight, properly aligned smile.
Tooth decay. Tooth decay and cavities can often be treated early with a filling or a root canal. However, decay and cavities do not resolve on their own, and if they continue without treatment, they may lead to tooth decay that cannot be treated, requiring a complete removal of the affected tooth.
Abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth is a tooth that has an infection at the root of the tooth. If it can’t be treated with procedures like a root canal or apicoectomy, you may need to have it extracted to prevent the infection from spreading.
Wisdom teeth. Most should be extracted because they can cause overcrowding or may already be decayed.