Facial Trauma Surgery, Baltimore MD

Our training in oral and maxillofacial surgery uniquely qualifies us to manage and treat facial trauma. Injuries to the face not only impart physical trauma to patients but also a high degree of emotional trauma as well. Some common causes of facial trauma include motor vehicle accidents, accidental falls, sports injuries, interpersonal violence, and work-related injuries. Types of facial injuries can range from injuries to teeth to extremely severe injuries of the skin and bones of the face. Typically, facial injuries are classified as either soft tissue injuries (skin and gums), bone injuries (fractures), or injuries to special regions (such as the eyes, facial nerves, or  salivary glands).

The science and art of treating facial injuries requires special training and an understanding of how the treatment will influence the patient’s long-term function and appearance. We meet and exceed these standards. We are on staff at local hospitals and deliver emergency room coverage for facial injuries, which include the following conditions:

• intra oral and facial lacerations
• avulsed (knocked out) teeth and fractures involving the bone supporting the teeth
• fractured facial bones (cheek, nose, eye socket)
• fractured jaws (upper and lower jaws)

Fractures of the Maxillofacial Region

Fractures of the facial bones are treated in a similar manner to fractures in other parts of the body. The specific form of treatment is determined by various factors, including the location of the fracture, the severity of the fracture, and the age and general health of the patient. When an arm or a leg is fractured, a cast is often applied to stabilize the bone to allow for proper healing. Since a cast cannot be placed on the face, other means have been developed to stabilize facial fractures.

One of these options involves wiring the teeth together for certain upper and / or lower jaw fractures (closed reduction). Another option to treat jaw fractures involves the surgical placement of small plates and screws at the fracture site. This technique (rigid fixation) can often make closed reduction unnecessary. The use of rigid fixation has shortened the recovery period for many patients, allowing them to return to normal function more quickly.

Injuries to the Teeth and Supporting Bone

As oral and maxillofacial surgeons we are involved in the treatment of fractures of the supporting bone of teeth or in replanting teeth that have been displaced or avulsed (knocked out). These types of injuries are treated by stabilizing the involved teeth to adjacent teeth with wire or with a light-cured plastic. If your tooth is knocked out, you should place it in salt water or milk immediately. The sooner the tooth is re-inserted into the dental socket, the greater the chance it will survive. Therefore, you should contact  your general dentist or us as soon as possible. Never attempt to wipe the tooth off, since you might damage remnants of the ligament that hold the tooth in the jaw; these ligaments are vital to the success of replanting the tooth. In the event that injured teeth cannot be saved or repaired, dental implants are the best option to replace the missing teeth.