Facial Trauma
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are well trained, skilled and uniquely qualified to manage and treat Facial Trauma.There are a number of possible causes of facial trauma such as motor vehicle accidents, accidental falls, sports injuries, interpersonal violence, and work-related injuries. Types of facial injuries can range from injuries of teeth to extremely severe injuries of the skin and bones of the face. Typically, facial injuries are classified as either soft tissue (skin and gums), bony (fractures), or by a specific region (such as the eyes, facial nerves or the salivary glands).
Dr. Henderson delivers care for facial injuries, which include the following conditions:
- Facial lacerations
- Lip laceration
- Intra oral lacerations
- Fractured teeth
- Avulsed (knocked out) teeth
- Fractured facial bones (cheek, nose or eye socket)
- Fractured jaws (upper and lower jaw)
Isolated injuries to teeth are quite common. Occasionally however, these injuries will also involve the supporting bone – together the teeth and bone make up the dentoalveolar complex. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are traditionally involved in treating fractures of the facial bone and jaws in addition to the supporting bone of teeth and in replanting teeth that have been displaced or knocked out. These types of injuries are treated by one of a number of forms of splinting (stabilizing by wiring or bonding teeth together). If a tooth is knocked out, it should be placed in salt water or milk. The sooner the tooth is re-inserted into the dental socket, the better chance it will survive. Therefore, the patient should see a dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible. Never attempt to wipe the tooth off, since remnants of the ligament that hold the tooth in the jaw are attached and are vital to the success of replanting the tooth.
