A tooth extraction is a commonly performed procedure to remove a tooth from its socket. The most common reason for tooth extraction is removing seriously damaged teeth (e.g., excessive tooth decay, abscessed teeth, fractured or broken teeth). Dentists will generally try to save a damaged tooth, but sometimes there is too much damage to restore the tooth.

Extractions may be simple extractions or surgical extractions. A simple extraction involves removing an erupted tooth without damaging the gum. This procedure can be performed by a general dentist, typically with local anesthesia.

A surgical extraction requires removing the tooth through the gum and possibly the jawbone. It is performed on teeth that have not erupted and teeth that are broken at the gumline and cannot be removed with a simple extraction. This is a more complicated procedure that is usually performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and often requires stronger anesthesia (e.g., conscious sedation, general anesthesia). The degree of complexity depends on the condition of the tooth to be extracted. For example, sideways tilted impacted teeth are more difficult to extract that those in a vertical position.

Sometimes, a tooth does not fully erupt. It may be impacted in the bone, blocked by extra teeth (e.g., a primary tooth that never fell out) or it may erupt partially, leaving a flap of gum where infection can set in (pericoronitis). Wisdom teeth, for example, are frequently impacted or only partially erupt and often need to be extracted.

Other reasons for tooth extraction include:

• Dental crowding. Crooked teeth may crowd together, leaving little or no room for orthodontic work, such as braces. Some teeth may be extracted to create spaces to move the teeth into a straighter position.
  
  
• Risk of infection. Any teeth that have a high risk of infection may need to be extracted before patients undergo any kind of therapy that will weaken the immune system (e.g., chemotherapy, immunosuppressant medications for organ transplant patients).
  
  
• Preparation for a complete denture. Any remaining teeth (particularly upper teeth) may occasionally be extracted to prepare the mouth for a complete denture. However, if the teeth are healthy, dentists generally prefer to leave them in the mouth and use a partial denture or bridge instead, especially when treating the lower teeth.
  
  
• Radiation therapy. Some teeth may be obstacles to radiation therapy for the head and neck, which is common among cancer patients. In these cases, the teeth may need to be extracted to improve the effectiveness of the therapy. Surgery to smooth the jaw bone (alveoplasty) may be performed at the same time to speed healing after an extraction, allowing radiation therapy to be performed sooner.