No one wants to have their tooth pulled, but sometimes it must be done to prevent the spread of infection. Dr. Detar believes that you are far better off having the tooth pulled if it is needed because it causes a lot less destruction the surrounding bone and teeth. Nowadays, when you remove a tooth, if an implant cannot be placed immediately, a bone graft is placed to help preserve and grow the bone around the tooth socket. The procedure is pain-free and we tend not to see the pain that used to be associated with dry sockets.
You always want to replace a missing tooth because the teeth around it start to move which often leads to further dental problems. The best options is to replace the tooth with a dental implant, but if that cannot occur, a dental bridge is the next best choice. Ask Dr. Detar which option is best for you; she will do her best to try to save all of your teeth!