The doctors at Berks Oral Surgery are highly trained to manage the treatment of facial injuries affecting the mouth, face, and jaws. There are a number of possible causes of facial injuries, and trauma can range from injuries to the teeth to severe injuries to the skin and bones of the face.
Many patients with facial injuries are first seen in the emergency room and then referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for further treatment. Our doctors are part of the trauma team at the Reading Hospital.
Injuries To The Teeth
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat fractures that involve the bone that supports the teeth (alveolus); they are also specialists in replacing “knocked out” or displaced teeth. These types of injuries involve some type of “splinting” or bonding teeth together to stabilize the involved teeth while they heal. A “knocked out” tooth should be placed in milk or diluted salt water until you get to the surgeon. Do not wipe off or attempt to clean the root surface, as this disturbs the viable ligament that is still attached.
Time is of the essence, and you should seek treatment as soon as possible after an injury. In the event that the tooth cannot be saved, a dental implant can support a lifelike replacement for what you lost.
Injuries To Soft Tissues
Facial injuries are often complicated by lacerations of the skin and intraoral tissues. These are carefully repaired by suturing. Our doctors do superior work to manage these complex and esthetically demanding facial injuries.
Bone Injuries
The treatment of jaw and facial bone fractures is similar to treatment for fractures in other parts of the body. If you break your arm, a cast is often placed to stabilize the bone to allow for healing. Since a cast cannot be placed on the face, other techniques are used to stabilize these fractures.
One way to treat these fractures involves wiring the teeth together. Other types of fractures are stabilized by the use of small bone plates. This is called rigid fixation, and it often does not require wiring the jaws together. As a result, the patient returns to normal function sooner!
An attempt is always made to perform these procedures from inside the mouth. When skin incisions are necessary, they are designed to be small and usually placed in an area that keeps the resulting scar hidden.
Learn How The Surgeons At Berks Oral Surgery Address Facial Trauma
Facial injuries can impart a high degree of emotional as well as physical trauma to patients. The science and art of treating these injuries requires special training, which includes “hands on” experience and a deep understanding of how treatment will influence the patient’s function and appearance. The doctors and their highly-qualified team at Berks Oral Surgery + Dental Implant Center have the training, experience, and knowledge to help! To learn more, please call Berks Oral Surgery at 610-374-4093.