You probably already know that tooth pain and infection isn't fun. In the past, whenever a tooth got severely decayed or caused pain, a common remedy was to extract it. Thankfully, that is not always the case with modern dentistry. Most teeth can be saved, but whether that is feasible or desirable depends on many factors. In some cases, having a tooth extraction, itself, may result in complications down the road. But there are some times when tooth extraction may be the least painful and expensive thing to do. Here are some reasons why you may choose having a tooth extracted over preserving it.

When your mouth is too crowded:

If your mouth is too crowded and it's affecting your bite, your dentist or orthodontist may suggest removing some teeth. Extraction may also be suggested if you are going to have braces or other types of orthodontia to correct the alignment of the teeth.

When baby and adult teeth have a conflict:

Younger patients may need tooth extraction when their baby teeth fail to fall out before the permanent teeth start coming in. Some older children and adults may also need to have their permanent teeth pulled if they don't fully erupt or cause problems with existing permanent teeth.

When you are undergoing radiation treatment:

Radiation treatments in certain parts of the head and neck may require tooth extractions in or near the treatment area. The reason for this is that if the teeth in that area have any kind of decay, it could cause osteonecrosis in that area. Usually, only teeth that can cause a potential problem, such as those that are already decayed or decaying, are removed.

When it's more practical than saving the tooth:

Generally, the first step in repairing a decayed tooth is to restore it. Some dentists will only go so far in restoring certain teeth such as wisdom teeth. Many dentists will recommend pulling a wisdom tooth if it needs a root canal or crown. Another reason to pull a decayed tooth is when the tooth is cracked below the gum line. Cracks in that area often lead to extremely painful infections that will end in the tooth falling out.  In these cases, extraction could be the least painful, least expensive way to cure the problem.

Hopefully, if you need an extraction, it will go smoothly for you. Most extractions tend to have little to no complications. If you suspect you will need to have a tooth pulled sometime in the future, talk to a dentist, like William J Guthrie DDS PC, or anorthodontist to discuss your options.