You and your dentist may decide that you need to have a tooth extracted for any one of a number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed, others because they have suffered the effects of advanced periodontal disease ("gum disease"). Some teeth need to be extracted because they have broken in a fashion that makes it impossible to repair them. Teeth may need to be removed because they are positioned in the mouth inappropriately (such as impacted wisdom teeth), or else in preparation for orthodontic treatment ("braces").
During their examination of your teeth and mouth it is possible that your dentist will be able to recommend to you various alternative treatments instead of just having a tooth extraction. While having a tooth extracted may be less expensive than the other options proposed it may not be the least expensive in the long run. When a tooth is missing its neighboring teeth will tend to shift, possibly significantly. Any alignment changes that occur can have a major impact on your dental health. Removing even a single tooth can lead to problems associated with your chewing ability or jaw joint function. Teeth whose alignment has changed can trap food or be hard to clean thoroughly, thus placing them at risk for tooth decay or gum disease.
So to avoid these complications, in most cases your dentist will probably recommend to you that you replace the tooth that has been extracted. Replacing a tooth that has been extracted with an artificial one can easily cost more than the alternative of not having a tooth extraction and instead rebuilding the tooth.
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