Your dentist may recommend an extraction for many possible reasons. These can include your tooth being decayed or broken to the point where it is non-restorable, or bone loss in the case of gum disease, or tooth infection, or crowding of teeth. Not going ahead with a recommended extraction increases your chances of further deterioration. This can lead to severe pain and damage to surrounding teeth.

Risks and complications of procedure

While you will be instructed on post operative care following a tooth extraction there are some risks to be aware of.

Common risks and side effects include pain, infection, bleeding, or dry socket following the extraction. Rarer risks involve reactions to drugs used, damage to surrounding teeth and restorative work, fragment of root being left in the jaw, or involvement of the sinuses or facial nerves. An involvement of one or more of these rare side effects may require you to undergo further treatment.

The risk of not going ahead with the procedure is further deterioration of the tooth. This can lead to infection if not already present, and in severe cases this infection can spread to the surrounding tissue and into the body.