One of the chief causes of tooth decay is the plaque made up of bacteria that develop on the teeth after eating or drinking. If left untreated, plaque can lead to the formation of holes in the teeth. These holes are called cavities. Severe cavities could cause the decay and deterioration of a tooth. When this occurs, the dentist will have to remove the tooth.

Though your teeth are quite strong, they aren’t unbreakable. A tooth can sometimes crack or break when you bite into something hard. Minor damage to the tooth can be treated by covering the tooth with a crown. But in extreme cases, the tooth may have to be extracted.

Wisdom teeth are an additional set of molars that typically start to grow in the young adult years. Most of us do not have enough space in our mouths for these extra teeth. This often leads to teeth becoming impacted, getting stuck under the gums, and causing damage to already existing teeth. Impacted teeth may also harm the jawbone. In these circumstances, an extraction becomes unavoidable.

Besides attacking your teeth, plaque also destroys the soft gum tissue around your teeth. This could lead to periodontal disease, also referred to as gum disease. Gum disease causes the separation of the tissues around the teeth. This leads to the loosening of teeth and can also be quite painful. In severe cases, the dentist may advise pulling out some of the loose teeth.

Once the permanent teeth have started to erupt, many patients realize that there isn’t enough space for all of their teeth. This causes misalignment of the teeth and could lead to many serious dental issues in the future. Patients facing this issue are usually referred to an orthodontist for braces. And before these treatments begin, the dentist may carry out tooth extractions.