Facial Trauma
Livermore, CA
You brush and floss your teeth every day. You maintain regular dental visits for cleanings and exams. You may even wear a mouth guard when you play sports. Taking the proper preventative measures are important to prevent serious oral health issues. However, sometimes, despite everything that you do, accidents can still occur. Facial trauma is a serious problem that, even if the trauma seems minor at the time, needs to be addressed right away. Pacific Oral & Facial Surgery Center can help.
Types of Facial TraumaFacial trauma is any injury that occurs to the face, as well as those in the mouth. There are a few different types of facial trauma:
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Soft tissue injuries. These injuries include such things as cuts, burns and contusions to your facial tissues, and those inside your mouth.
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Bone injuries, including fractures to your jaw, cheekbones, eye sockets, nose, and forehead.
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Tooth injuries. Facial trauma often results in injuries to your teeth. Some injuries may result in your teeth being driven deeper into their sockets. Other injuries may cause them to become partially dislodged. Other injuries may cause them to be knocked out completely. |
Causes of Facial TraumaThere are numerous causes of facial trauma:
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Car accidents, which are the leading cause of facial trauma.
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Sports injuries (often as a result of colliding with another player).
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Falls.
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Getting into a fight with another person. |
Soft Tissue TraumaSoft tissue injuries include lacerations, burns or contusions to the soft tissues of your face, as well as in your mouth. These injuries can do more than just alter your appearance. Your soft tissues contain blood vessels and nerves. Certain areas of your soft tissues also contain salivary glands and ducts. If any of these become damaged as a result of facial trauma, seeking treatment quickly is essential. At Pacific Oral & Facial Surgery Center, we have the experience and expertise to restore the appearance of your face, while also restoring the functions of nerves, salivary glands, and ducts.
Trauma to Your Jaw and Facial BonesFacial fractures, just like fractures to any other bone in the body, need to be set. However, we cannot place a cast on your face. Instead, we have other ways to stabilize the bones and allow them to heal. One way in which we do this is through wiring, which is commonly used on the jaw. We wire your jaw shut, immobilizing it. The major drawback to wiring is that you have no use of your jaw while you heal.
The other way in which we set facial bones is with screws and plates. These are designed to hold the fractured bones securely in place. Plates and screws allow for the movement of your jaw. They may also stay in place permanently, even after you have healed.
Tooth TraumaTooth injuries are common with facial injuries. If your tooth has either been knocked deeper into the socket or partially dislodged, we can reset to tooth and hold it in place with a split until your bone, and periodontal ligaments heal.
If a tooth has completely fallen out, it is possible to replant it. First, find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown (avoid touching the root). Rinse it off under cool water. Store it in a jar of milk until you can get to the office. If for any reason, we cannot save your tooth, we will discuss options for replacement.
If you have experienced facial trauma, even if it seems like no big deal, getting treatment right away is essential. Call Pacific Oral & Facial Surgery Center today. |
Livermore: 925-290-7727
