25 Sep Types Of Facial Injuries Your Oral Surgeon Can Correct
Facial injuries have the potential to compromise the appearance and function of your smile if you don’t take action to address them in a timely manner. Often this involves working with an oral surgeon, who has the education and expertise needed to achieve the desired treatment outcomes.
The varying types of facial trauma result in a range of injuries that require different surgical approaches. Some patients may require multiple procedures over time depending on the extent of the damage.
Most importantly, you should schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon as soon as possible after experiencing facial trauma. Even if the situation is urgent enough that it requires initial care at an emergency room, you should still follow up with a specialist for additional treatment.
The nature of the injury will determine what type of treatment is appropriate.
Categories of Facial Injuries
Facial trauma can result in any of the following injuries:
- Hard tissue (bone) injuries – fractures, dislocations, damaged discs, joints, etc.
- Soft tissue injuries – lacerations of the gums, lips, tongue or cheeks
- Dislodged teeth
The nature of the injury will determine what type of treatment is appropriate. Multiple fractures will warrant more extensive intervention than a fairly mild abrasion of the lip. If you need to replace missing teeth, you may want to consider surgical options for that, such as dental implants.
Consequences of Delaying Oral Surgery
If you fail to seek treatment for a facial injury, you risk long-term damage to your smile and other oral tissues. Therefore, you should schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon as soon as possible after your injury. Delaying treatment could cause complications that present additional treatment challenges.
Even if you seek medical treatment initially, you should still consult with a specialist in oral surgery. These practitioners dedicate an extensive amount of time and energy to learning and practicing their craft, and patients who want to restore beautiful, functional smiles benefit from this expertise.
We encourage patients who are in need of treatment to repair damage from a facial injury to contact our office as soon as possible to schedule an evaluation and get started on their course of treatment. Acting promptly will improve your chances of good treatment results.