Many modern dental procedures in use today can allow your dentist to perform a wide number of treatments on a tooth that is decayed, chipped, or otherwise damaged, so that rarely will he or she have to actually extract or pull it. However, there may be times when you can expect to have a tooth pulled; it might then be replaced by a dental implant, or the gums simply allowed to heal over that area. While only your dentist can tell you if a tooth of yours will need to be extracted, note some reasons why this might need to be done, so you can know what to expect during your next dental appointment.

Very crowded teeth

If your teeth are oversized and very crowded, there may simply not be enough room in your mouth for all of them! Removing one tooth can allow your dentist or orthodontist to install braces or another device that will push the remaining teeth in place, so that they're properly aligned and not rubbing against each other unnecessarily.

Infections

If a tooth becomes infected, the infection might spread to the pulp, or the tissue under the tooth cap. This can be dangerous, as the infection can then keep spreading to the bones of the jaw or other areas of the body. A root canal can sometimes remove the infected pulp of the tooth, but if the infection has become so severe that it cannot be removed easily, the entire tooth may need to be removed.

Severely cracked or chipped

Some cracks and chips in a tooth can be covered with a cap or crown, or filled in with a bonding agent that dries and hardens over the tooth. However, some cracks and chips can be so severe that the tooth has become weakened and cannot hold a cap or crown. This tooth may have already come loose, or developed an infection because of the exposed tissue under the tooth enamel. In these cases, the tooth will probably need to be removed.

Severely undersized

A tooth that is somewhat undersized may be able to hold a crown or cap, or the bonding agent mentioned above, so that it looks properly aligned with other teeth, and is also strong enough for chewing. A severely undersized tooth, on the other hand, may not be strong enough and large enough to hold this type of treatment, and you may even have pain when chewing. In this case, the tooth may need to be removed so that a dental implant can be put into its place.