My tooth and crown with the post broke off right at the gum. Is my only option to get the roots taken out?

Hi:It's difficult to give you accurate advice without picture and xray.  Your best bet is to go to the dentist right away to check the area.  Most likely you will have to extract the tooth.Best,Dr. Maddahi

Hello! It is always tragic for folks to lose teeth.  As dental providers, we often try very hard to retain teeth.  Extracting a tooth is the only thing that we do that is permanent.  The situation you have described is very common and I encounter this issue often in my practice. 99/100 times in this case, I will recommend that the patient have the remaining tooth root removed, and an implant placed.  In your case, if the tooth is extracted, a partial denture to replace many of the missing teeth may be a possibility, however, it is impossible for me to say without seeing you.  Even when I was in the military and everything was free for the patients, extracting the tooth and placement of an implant is typically the recommended treatment.  I hope this helps!! All the best.
-Miles