Although our first choice is to repair a tooth to prevent loss, sometimes a tooth is too badly damaged to be saved. If the tooth has a large amount of decay or has been badly broken and can’t support a dental restoration like a crown, a tooth extraction may be necessary.

Another scenario is with wisdom teeth. If they are impacted, misaligned or if there is not enough room for them in your mouth, the wisdom teeth can cause crowding and shifting among the rest of your teeth. They can also be very difficult to keep clean because they are so far back in your mouth and may develop decay. In these cases, the best course of action is usually a wisdom teeth extraction.