Facial Trauma: Injuries, Treatment & When to See an Oral Surgeon
A fall, a car accident, a hit during a ball game, or an accident at work can happen in an instant. When an injury involves your face, jaw, or teeth, it's natural to wonder who you should see and how quickly you need care.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are specially trained to diagnose and treat injuries to the bones, teeth, jaws, and soft tissues of the face. Here's what facial trauma includes, the signs that an injury needs attention, and what treatment and recovery generally look like.
What Counts as Facial Trauma?
Facial trauma refers to injuries involving the bones, teeth, jaws, soft tissues, and surrounding structures of the face. Common causes include motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, falls, workplace accidents, and physical altercations.
Because your face plays a vital role in speaking, eating, breathing, and vision, even an injury that seems minor deserves a careful look.
Signs an Injury May Need an Oral Surgeon
If an injury involves trouble breathing, heavy bleeding, loss of consciousness, or a possible head or neck injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room first. For injuries to the face, jaw, and teeth, it's a good idea to seek an evaluation if you notice:
- Trouble chewing, speaking, or opening and closing your mouth comfortably
- Teeth that no longer fit together the way they used to
- Teeth that are fractured, loose, pushed out of place, or knocked out
- Cuts to the lips, cheeks, tongue, gums, or facial skin
- Swelling or pain around the jaw, cheekbones, eye sockets, or nose
Some injuries aren't obvious right away, so an evaluation is worthwhile.
How Facial Injuries Are Evaluated
Every facial injury is different, so treatment starts with a thorough evaluation. High-resolution 3D CBCT imaging and CT scans allow your surgeon to examine fractures in detail, identify hidden injuries, and develop a precise surgical plan before treatment begins.
Facial trauma often happens alongside other injuries, so oral and maxillofacial surgeons frequently work with emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, ENT specialists, and other medical professionals to provide coordinated care.
Common Treatments for Facial Trauma
Facial and jaw fractures
Fractures may involve the upper or lower jaw, cheekbones, eye sockets, nose, or other facial bones. Depending on the location and severity, treatment may involve carefully repositioning the bones and securing them with small titanium plates and screws. These are designed to stabilize the bones while they heal and typically remain in place permanently without causing discomfort. If an injury affects the position of the jaws, corrective jaw surgery may sometimes be needed to restore alignment.
Injured teeth
Prompt treatment significantly increases the chances of saving an injured tooth. When a tooth can't be preserved, tooth extraction followed by restorative care may be recommended, and dental implants can help replace missing teeth once healing is complete.
Soft tissue injuries
Injuries to the lips, cheeks, tongue, gums, or facial skin are repaired with care to support proper healing, reduce the risk of infection, and minimize visible scarring.
Restoring your bite
A key goal is helping your teeth fit together comfortably again. If an injury causes bone loss, bone grafting may be used to rebuild the area.
What Recovery Is Generally Like
Your surgeon will give you detailed instructions for healing. Depending on your injury, you may be asked to follow a soft-food diet, avoid strenuous activities, keep up excellent oral hygiene, and attend follow-up visits. Most patients notice gradual improvement over several weeks as swelling goes down and normal function returns, though every recovery is different.
Different anesthesia and sedation options may be available to help keep you comfortable and safe during treatment, depending on the procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does prompt care matter after a facial injury?
Early treatment often leads to faster healing, better function, and better cosmetic results. It can also help prevent chronic pain, bite problems, jaw dysfunction, and facial asymmetry that may develop if injuries are left untreated.
Will the plates and screws need to be removed?
The small titanium plates and screws used to stabilize fractures typically remain in place permanently without causing discomfort. Your surgeon will explain what to expect for your specific injury.
Can a knocked-out or broken tooth be saved?
Sometimes. Prompt treatment significantly increases the chances of saving an injured tooth. If a tooth can't be saved, your surgeon can talk with you about replacement options.
Schedule a Facial Trauma Evaluation
Facial injuries can be physically and emotionally overwhelming, but you don't have to face recovery alone. The surgeons at Mountaineer Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, Dr. Byron Black and Dr. William Black, see patients at our offices at 1215 Virginia St E, Charleston, WV and 102 Memorial Dr, Ripley, WV. If your injury also involves your bite or jaw position, you may find our article on corrective jaw surgery helpful.
Call Mountaineer Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons at 304-514-5500 to schedule a consultation, or visit our contact page to get in touch.