Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are experts at repairing facial fractures, dental injuries, and other facial injuries. If you experience an injury, Dr. Kovach at Trinity River Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center may be able to help you at our office in Willow Park, TX, or at a nearby hospital, depending on the severity of your condition.
Facial trauma refers to any physical trauma or injury to the face, jaws, or teeth. Some of the most common facial and dental injuries that oral surgeons treat include
- Facial cuts and lacerations
- Fractures to facial bones, such as the cheekbones, eye sockets, etc.
- Dislocated or fractured jaws
- Broken or knocked-out teeth
Treating Facial Injuries
Our oral surgeon in Willow Park, TX, has years of experience treating all types of oral and facial injuries. The type of treatment you need can vary depending on the extent and location of your injury, but we’ve listed some of the general treatment plans for common injuries below:
Dental Injuries
For broken or cracked teeth, sometimes a dentist can repair the injury. When a tooth is broken more extensively (down to the socket), an oral and maxillofacial surgeon will likely be necessary to restore the tooth. Usually, your oral surgeon will stabilize the affected tooth using wires or a tooth-colored bonding material.
When a tooth is avulsed (completely knocked out), your oral surgeon may be able to save your natural tooth and reinsert it into the tooth socket. The sooner you can bring your tooth in, the better, because the first 30 minutes after an injury offer the best chances for replacement. If your tooth is knocked out, bring it in immediately, and try not to wipe off any blood or tissues attached to the tooth, as these can be important for replacement. Transport the tooth in some saliva or whole milk and do not try to disinfect it using any soaps or cleaners.
Facial Cuts
When cuts or lacerations happen on the face or inside the mouth, oral surgeons usually treat them through suturing. Oral surgeons strategically place sutures using techniques that minimize visible scarring and create the best possible cosmetic results.
Facial Fractures
When facial bones are broken, they need to be stabilized or held in place so that they can heal in the proper position. With bones in the rest of the body, casts are usually used to stabilize the bones, but casts are not practical for use over facial bones. Instead, oral surgeons surgically place tiny screws, plates, and/or wires to hold the facial bones in place while they heal. These tiny plates and screws are not visible beneath the skin, and your surgeon will use techniques that create the best cosmetic results possible.
Facial Injury Treatment in Willow Park, TX
If you experience a facial trauma event, Trinity River Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center may be able to help. Our staff will make time to see you as soon as possible, usually the day you call. To learn more about facial injury treatment, feel free to give us a call at (817) 441-5000. If you are experiencing very severe facial injuries, seek emergency care immediately.