There are typically three reasons why a tooth needs to be extracted. The first is if the gums and bone have deteriorated to the point where there is nothing left to structurally support the tooth (periodontitis). Another example is advanced dental caries (decay), which leaves little tooth structure to rebuild or repair. The final situation is when there is a severe dental infection, such as an abscess, and the individual prefers to have the tooth extracted rather than undergo root canal treatment.
To save your natural tooth, we usually recommend a therapeutic restoration such as a root canal, crown, or gum disease treatment. However, if a tooth cannot be restored, the only option is to extract it before it compromises adjacent teeth.