If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, your dentist will try to fix it
with a filling, crown or other dental treatment. But when there’s too much
damage for the tooth to be repaired, the tooth may need to be extracted— or
removed — from its socket in the bone.

TOOTH REMOVAL Procedures There are two types of extractions: A simple extraction – this procedure is on a tooth that can be seen in
the mouth. For a simple extraction, the dentist loosens the tooth with an
instrument called an elevator. Then the dentist uses forceps to remove
the tooth. A surgical extraction – this is a more complex procedure, which is used
if a tooth may have broken off at the gum line or has not erupted in the
mouth. The oral surgeon will make a small incision into your gum to
surgically remove the broken tooth or impacted wisdom tooth.