Although natural teeth are intended to last a lifetime, tooth extraction may be required for various reasons. Tooth extraction is a standard dental surgery in which a tooth is removed from its socket in the bone. Although it is generally preferable to keep your teeth, there are times when they must be extracted. Patients may require a tooth extraction due to severe tooth decay, infection, or crowding. And when getting braces, one or two teeth may need to be removed to provide room for teeth to shift into place. The type of extraction required is determined by the tooth’s structure, location, and size. Surgical tooth extractions are considered to be the most common dental procedure in the United States.