Facial Trauma
We understand how injuries to the face not only cause physical trauma, but cause a high level of emotional trauma as well. Our team is committed to providing the most compassionate and individualized care available to ensure you receive optimum results. Our care providers have completed extensive training in acute treatment, urgent care and reconstruction and rehabilitation of the facial region. They are highly skilled in the management and treatment of facial trauma.
There are numerous possibilities for the cause of facial trauma, including sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, violence and work-related injuries to just name a few. These types of injuries are divided into three categories:
- Soft Tissue Injuries: involving lacerations on the face/gums that may have affected the salivary glands, salivary ducts and/or facial nerves
- Bone Injuries: involving fractures of the facial bones
- Tooth Injuries: involving fractures to teeth or the displacement of a knocked out tooth
Treatment
Depending on the type of trauma, treatment will vary. Soft tissue injuries that involve lacerations to the mouth or face will be treated with sutures. We will carefully examine the degree of trauma and repair any damage to facial nerves and/or salivary glands and ducts. We have completed specialty training to ensure the best cosmetic result is achieved as well.
Injuries to the facial bones and jaws are generally treated in the same way fractures are treated in other parts of the body, minus the use of a cast. Treatment may include wiring the jaw shut or "rigid fixation", which uses plates and screws to stabilize the fracture. Rigid fixation has provided a faster recovery for patients, which has enabled them to return to their normal daily routine sooner than before.
Injuries to the teeth are very common and may sometimes require multiple dental specialists to restore the natural appearance and function of the patient's teeth. If you or a loved one has experienced an injury to a tooth, please place the tooth in salt water or milk as soon as possible. Contact us immediately as the sooner the tooth is reinserted, the greater the chance it will survive.
We will work with each patient individually to create a personalized treatment plan that will best meet your needs.