Facial Trauma

Treating facial trauma is a challenging task following incidents such as automobile accidents, sports injuries, or falls. Our surgeons have extensive training and experience in treating both minor and major facial injuries. Dr. Kim, Dr. Schmid, and Dr. Banachowski are able to repair injuries that occur to facial bones and facial soft tissue. Some examples include jaw fractures, cheek bone fractures, fractures of eye sockets, or repairing soft defects to the lip or lacerations of the skin.

Maxillofacial trauma refers to injuries or trauma affecting the face, jaws, and associated structures, such as the mouth, teeth, nose, and skull. It is commonly caused by accidents, falls, sports injuries, assaults, or other traumatic events.

Maxillofacial trauma can range from minor injuries like cuts and bruises to severe fractures or dislocations of the facial bones. Some common types of maxillofacial trauma include:

1. Facial Fractures: These involve the bones of the face, including the jawbone (mandible), cheekbones (zygomatic bones), nasal bones, and eye sockets (orbital bones). Fractures may cause pain, swelling, deformity, difficulty in moving the jaw or mouth, and may affect vision or breathing.
2. Dental Injuries: Trauma to the face may lead to dental injuries such as tooth fractures, avulsions (complete tooth displacement), or luxations (partial tooth displacement). These injuries can cause pain, bleeding, and damage to the tooth structure and supporting tissues.
3. Soft Tissue Injuries: Trauma can cause lacerations (cuts), contusions (bruises), or abrasions to the skin, lips, tongue, or inside the mouth. These injuries may require suturing or other forms of treatment to promote healing and prevent infection.
4. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Injuries: The TMJ, which connects the jawbone to the skull, can be affected by trauma, leading to dislocation, subluxation (partial dislocation), or other injuries. This can result in pain, limited jaw movement, difficulty in opening or closing the mouth, and clicking or popping sensations.

Prompt evaluation and treatment of maxillofacial trauma are crucial to minimize complications, restore function, and achieve optimal aesthetic outcomes. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained to diagnose and manage these types of injuries, often working closely with other healthcare professionals, such as plastic surgeons and dentists, to provide comprehensive care for patients with maxillofacial trauma.

Check out this article on Full Mouth Reconstruction.