Can patients with pulpitis have a tooth extracted?

In general, whether a patient with pulpitis can undergo tooth extraction depends on the assessable value of preserving the tooth. When the tooth has potential for preservation, extraction is usually unnecessary; however, if the tooth is severely damaged and lacks restorative value, extraction becomes necessary. The detailed analysis is as follows:

If the tooth damage is mild—for example, inflammation limited to the dental pulp, with a stable root and no severe caries or structural defects—the inflammation can be eliminated and the tooth preserved through treatments such as root canal therapy, restoring normal chewing function. In such cases, extraction is not required. After treatment, the tooth can remain functional long-term and maintain normal occlusion.

When the tooth is severely damaged—such as when pulp inflammation is accompanied by significant root resorption, obvious tooth mobility, or extensive structural loss due to caries or trauma, making restoration impossible—preservation would fail to restore function and could even lead to further oral complications. In these cases, extraction is necessary. Following extraction, missing teeth can be replaced through various restorative methods.

To maintain oral health, patients with pulpitis should practice good oral hygiene daily, including brushing teeth morning and night and rinsing after meals, to reduce bacterial growth. They should also avoid chewing hard foods with the affected tooth to prevent further damage.