Maxillofacial injuries, or facial trauma, are injuries to the face, jaw, and mouth, and often result from car accidents, sports, or acts of violence. Facial trauma can be painful, lead to further complications, and frequently causes additional emotional trauma.
Facial trauma can occur to any portion of the face, mouth, or jaw, and is somewhat common for a variety of reasons. Some of the more common facial traumas include:
- Nasal fractures: Injuries to the nose are one of the most common due to the nose’s prominence in comparison to other facial features, and it is typically caused by blunt force trauma, such as receiving a punch or walking into an object. Nasal fractures do not usually require oral surgery, however, if breathing is compromised or the nose is misaligned, oral surgery is often necessary.
- Jaw fractures: Trauma and fractures to the jaw are most commonly caused by car accidents or sports. They frequently include damage to or loss of teeth, requiring the skill of an oral surgeon to repair, especially if there is a possibility of saving the missing teeth.
- Teeth injuries: Damage to the teeth often requires oral surgery, especially if the teeth can be replanted or the surrounding structures to the teeth have also been damaged, such as the gums or jawbone, that could result in further tooth damage and loss.
- Soft tissue injuries: Injuries to the soft tissue include cuts, lacerations, and other damage to the skin and layers of tissue on the face and mouth. Oral surgery is often performed to suture and stitch the injuries and inspect and repair any underlying damage to the facial nerves or structures, salivary glands, and salivary ducts.
Orthognathic surgery, or jaw surgery, may be necessary in some cases. Injuries of this level may require a trained and skilled oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
While many injuries requiring emergency medical care are immediately obvious, many may appear as minor initially but can develop worsening problems. In such cases, you should see an oral surgeon if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Intense pain that radiates into the ear or down the neck that becomes worse when lying down.
- Pain, stiffness, and locking or popping of the jawbone joint.
- Signs of infection, such as swelling to the face, lymph nodes, gums, or jaw.
- Continued and regular aching and bleeding of the gums when brushing or flossing.
- Knocked out or loose teeth, or teeth that suddenly fall out.
- A lingering sore or growth in the mouth that does not heal.
- Constant and severe tooth and jaw pain.
South Jersey Oral Surgeons at Lanzi Burke Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Perform Orthognathic Surgery
Facial trauma can have severe consequences if not addressed quickly and properly. One of our South Jersey oral surgeons at Lanzi Burke Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons may be able to perform orthognathic surgery to help you recover. Call us at 856-582-4222 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. Located in Washington Township, Haddonfield, and Woolwich Township, New Jersey, we are dedicated to helping patients throughout South Jersey.