In most cases, our smiles were designed to support 32 permanent teeth, or 16 on each arch. However, sometimes not having a full set can be better for your smile than if you do. Here are four important reasons your dentist may recommend an emergency tooth extraction, and one that isn’t quite as urgent.

Chipping a tooth can happen in an instant. Maybe you bit down on something unexpectedly hard, took a tumble, or accidentally bumped your mouth. Whatever the cause, you might be tempted to wait and see whether the tooth gets better on its own, especially if you’re not experiencing much pain. Unfortunately, teeth don’t heal the way other parts of your body do. Even a small chip deserves attention from your dentist to prevent further damage and protect your smile.