If you crack one of your teeth, you should book an appointment with an emergency dentist straight away. Read on to find out why.

The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more likely it is that you will lose your tooth

If your tooth is cracked and you wait a few days to undergo dental treatment, there is a chance that you may end up losing your tooth.

The reason for this is as follows; if the crack extends beyond the crown, down into the root of the tooth (where all of the nerves and other living tissues are located), it may cause the root to die if it is not repaired promptly. If the root dies, the entire tooth will probably have to be extracted.

Whilst losing a tooth might not seem like a serious matter (particularly if the tooth is located in a less visible part of your mouth), the reality is that it can have serious repercussions for both your health and your finances.

For example, if you choose not to replace it with an artificial tooth, the teeth that are adjacent to it may start to shift. This could not only have a negative impact on the appearance of your smile but could alter the alignment of your bite to such an extent that you cannot thoroughly chew your food or speak properly.

If you decide to have it replaced, you would have to attend multiple lengthy dental appointments and incur the cost of having a custom dental implant or denture fitted.

Given this, it is important to have your cracked tooth examined and treated by an emergency dentist as soon as you possibly can.

You could develop a serious infection

Delaying treatment of your cracked tooth could also put you at risk of developing a serious infection.

The reason for this is that your mouth is filled with lots of bacteria, some of which could make you ill if they enter your bloodstream.

If your tooth crack has lacerated your gum, then the dangerous bacteria in your mouth could potentially come into contact with your blood. This could result in you developing sepsis, a life-threatening condition that requires hospitalization.

Conversely, if you go to the dentist promptly after cracking your tooth, they will be able to clean the wound properly and provide you with antibiotics that will stave off any infection that may be in the early stages of development.