Restore Facial Aesthetics and Improve Your Ability to Eat and Speak
There are more than three million facial trauma cases in the United States each year, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons regularly treat these cases promptly. Most oral surgeons are staffed at local hospitals where they provide immediate care for emergencies. If you or someone you love experiences a facial trauma, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is the expert in treating and managing any facial trauma case.
Oral surgeons undergo extensive education and specialized training to properly address injuries to the mouth, teeth, facial bones, and skin. Our doctors have undergone a hospital-based surgical residency program, providing them with hands-on training in general surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and anesthesiology.
If you are currently experiencing a medical emergency, go to the nearest emergency room to receive care from the oral surgeon on call.
Causes of Facial Trauma
The most common traumatic events that cause injury to the face include automobile accidents, falls, work-related injuries, sports injuries, physical assaults, and everyday accidents in the home. The specific treatment that is employed to correct the injury will depend on the kind of injury sustained by the patient.
Every individual facial trauma is unique; some of the more frequently seen facial trauma injuries include
- Avulsed (knocked-out) or displaced teeth
- Fractured facial bones (cheek, nose, or eye socket)
- Fractured jaws (upper and lower jaw)
- Facial lacerations
- Intraoral lacerations
Treatment Options for Facial Trauma
When you come to Southern Oral & Facial Surgery for treatment, we will take 3D scans to determine the state of your facial structures. For any type of procedure, we offer several anesthesia options to ensure you are comfortable.
If you’ve experienced a minor injury, such as a facial laceration or an avulsed tooth, you may only require the placement of sutures or dental implants. Serious facial injuries, like a facial fracture or a jaw fracture, may involve a more complex procedure requiring more than one treatment. Corrective jaw surgery may be necessary in order to surgically reposition misaligned jaws.
Regardless of the severity or type of injury, it is extremely important to have facial trauma cases treated quickly and efficiently. Immediate treatment ensures that the mouth and face are properly restored and do not develop long-term complications. If the patient does not seek immediate treatment, they are at risk for long-term problems such as jaw misalignment or jaw bone deterioration.
If you or a loved one experiences a facial trauma, our doctors are available to treat your facial or dental injury. In cases of emergency, our staff will work to see you and start your treatment plan as soon as possible. Our doctors and their highly trained, compassionate surgical team will assist you and work diligently to restore the natural look and function of your face and mouth.
Types of Anesthesia
There are several anesthesia options available so patients can feel comfortable and at ease during treatment.
A local anesthetic is administered in the specific surgical area and can be used in conjunction with other anesthetic options, such as nitrous oxide. The patient remains awake and only the surgical area is numbed, so the patient can still drive home after.
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is administered through a mask when patients experience anxiety before the procedure. It provides mild pain-relieving effects and induces a relaxed state. Your surgeon can pair laughing gas with local anesthesia.
IV sedation renders a sleep-like state in which patients do not feel pain. This is commonly used in dental implant placement and the removal of wisdom teeth. General anesthesia, which renders the patient unconscious, is reserved for complex procedures, such as facial trauma or jaw surgery.