Oral Surgeon Conducting a Dental Exam

Whether your tooth suffered damage or got knocked out while playing sports or in a car accident, dental or facial trauma requires special treatment and attention immediately.

Such injuries can’t be cured by popping a painkiller or using an ice pack as severe trauma can result in major concerns when left untreated, like tooth loss, facial impairments or disfigurement. Getting immediate treatment from an experienced Texas oral surgery specialist is crucial for the overall healing process.  

What is Facial and Dental Trauma?

Facial and dental trauma is any physical injury to the teeth or face, including:

  • Facial bones fractures (eye socket, cheek, nose, and forehead)
  • Lower and upper jaws fractures
  • Bruises and burns
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Facial lacerations and cuts, with complex sutures
  • Lacerations and intraoral cuts
  • Broken teeth or missing teeth
  • Displaced or avulsed (knocked out) teeth

These injuries can result from accidents, like tripping or falling, car accidents, or sports. Treatments of such trauma depends on the extent of the damage. It might require tooth extraction and bone grafting, a single tooth dental implant, or in severe cases, all on 4 dental implants. These procedures are often performed with IV Sedation oral surgery.

Common Dental and Facial Trauma

The major cause of most facial and dental trauma is sports accidents, followed by road accidents. Such injuries usually impact one or more facial structures. The three most common dental and facial traumas are:

  • Tooth and Mouth Injuries

Most dental injuries consist of chipped or broken teeth and typically require a multi-step treatmentstep treatment approach. While injuries to the tooth crown above the gums are treated by your local dentistFor instance,,  the expertise of the an oral surgeon might be required to remove a tooth or teeth, conduct a bone graft or repair bone fractures while performing restorative surgery for minor injuries. 

  • Bone Traumas

The facial area around your nose, eyes, jaws, and cheeks are may be affected byy bone traumas. The oral surgeon has mustto first treat the bone injuries and also ensure that the aesthetics of the face are maintained while maintaining the function of chewing and speaking. 

  • Soft Tissue Injuries

These injuries may happen asSoft Tissue Injuries my cause lacerations to your facial area, lips or mouth. The oral surgeon must firsthas to evaluate the injuries prior to performing the indicated treatment. 

Treatments of Dental and Facial Injuries

The following treatments are typically performed to treat dental and facial injuries: 

Repairing Tissue Damage 

If the soft facial tissues are damaged, an oral surgery specialist will make sure to repair them correctly while ensuring the salivary glands and nerves stay intact and preventwhile minimizing any visible scarring.  

Facial Bone Fractures 

While some bone fractures can naturally heal, others mightmost need rigid treatment. The oral surgeon might frequently use titanium screws and plates to repair the damage, keeping in mind the function, form, and aesthetics of the face and jaws. 

Teeth Injuries and Tissue Damage 

Such damage must be treated immediately to ensure the surrounding teeth and tissues can survive. The oral surgeon will examine the damage and find the most effective solution.

In cases where the tooth is too damaged to be saved, tooth extraction and dental implant procedure would be performed to ensure you maintain your beautiful smile. 

If you have suffered from facial or dental trauma and require treatment from an expert oral surgeon, you can get in touch with us today. 

About the Authors

Texas oral surgery specialists, Dr. Chris Tye, MD, DDS & Dr. Andrew Sohn, MD, DMD, are board-certified oral surgeons located in Colleyville, TX, serving the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area and North Texas.