Facial Injury

Facial trauma is a term that refers to any type of injury that affects your face and mouth. These include injuries to soft tissues, injuries to your facial bones and jawbone, and dental injuries. While these injuries can range from mild to severe, it is important to seek treatment right away, even if you think that your injury is no big deal. Your face is both delicate and complex. At Optimum Oral Surgery Group, we are trained in treating a wide range of facial trauma and can help to restore both form and function to your mouth following injury.

Types of Facial Trauma

There are some different types of facial trauma, all of which range from mild to severe. Even in cases of mild trauma, however, it is important that you seek treatment immediately. Types of facial trauma include:

Causes of Facial Trauma

Facial trauma can be caused by some different issues, including:

Trauma to Soft Tissues

The face and mouth contain a significant amount of soft tissue. These tissues contain blood vessels and nerves. In some areas of the soft tissue, there are also salivary glands and ducts. In the event of soft tissue trauma, these structures could be damaged. Soft tissue trauma could also impact your facial appearance. The goal of treating soft tissue injuries is to restore function to any affected components in your soft tissues as well as restoring your facial aesthetics. It is essential that you seek treatment immediately so that we can effectively restore any affected nerves, blood vessels, salivary glands, or salivary ducts. We are experts in these types of repairs and can help to provide you with the best functional and aesthetic results possible.

Trauma to Facial Bones and Your Jaw

Fractured facial bones need to be set, just like any other fractured bone. However, unlike an arm or leg, your face cannot be placed in a cast. Instead, we have a few ways in which we can set facial bones to facilitate proper healing. One way in which fractured bones can be set is with wiring. This particular treatment is common with a fractured jaw. The wire is used to set your jaw closed. While effective, it does prevent you from being able to use your mouth. Another treatment for fractured facial bones is with plates and screws. This type of treatment allows for the use of your mouth while you heal. The plates and screws are often left in permanently.

Dental Trauma

Tooth injuries are quite common with facial trauma. These injuries range from chipped or cracked teeth to tooth intrusion and tooth loss. Treatment for these injuries vary based on the type of trauma experienced. These are what we call dental trauma. Chipped and cracked teeth can often be treated with dental crowns. Teeth that have been pushed deeper into their sockets or partially dislodged can be reset and secured. In cases of tooth loss, the tooth can often be replanted if it is found and undamaged. If your teeth have been damaged beyond repair, you may require an extraction. For teeth that have been extracted or those that cannot be replanted, we can provide you with a replacement.

When you have suffered facial trauma, it is essential that you seek treatment immediately. Call Optimum Oral Surgery Group at (856) 437-4432 to schedule your appointment today.