Facial Trauma

If you’ve suffered facial or dental trauma, at Santa Clara Oral Surgery and Dental Implants we use state-of-the-art technology paired with expert skills to provide the appropriate treatment for this delicate situation. Find out more about our specialized care by contacting us for a consultation.

Facial trauma is defined as any injury to the face, including facial bones, jawbones, and teeth. Examples of injuries of this nature include facial or intraoral lacerations; knocked-out (avulsed) teeth; fractured facial bones such as the cheek, nose or eye socket; and upper and lower jaw fractures.

The possible causes of facial trauma can be as wide and varied as they are complex and sensitive. Motor vehicle accidents, accidental falls, sports injuries, interpersonal violence and work-related injuries can all be causes for facial trauma.

While each injury and every patient are unique, our doctors at Santa Clara Oral Surgery and Dental Implants are expertly trained, artfully skilled and highly qualified to manage and treat facial trauma. In addition to providing care in our offices, they are also on staff at local hospitals and cover emergency room procedures for facial injuries as well. If you've experienced a traumatic injury, the first step on the path to healing is to seek emergency treatment.

Facial injuries can vary from injuries that affect the teeth to severe injuries impacting the skin and bones of the face, but they are usually classified into one of the three categories listed here. At Santa Clara Oral Surgery and Dental Implants, we treat:

• Soft tissue injuries. These are injuries such as lacerations that occur to the skin and gums, and they are often repaired with stitches. Our doctors take care to not only deliver the best cosmetic repair possible, but also to ensure that any injuries to other areas of the face are discovered and properly addressed.
• Bone injuries or fractures. Treatment for injuries of this sort depend on the location of the injury or fracture, the severity of the fracture and the age and overall health of the patient. stabilize facial fractures. Sometimes the approach calls for wiring the jaws together or the alternative technique called “rigid fixation” wherein the fracture is stabilized through the surgical placement of small plates and screws. Whichever procedure is pursued, our team carefully proceeds with the goal of minimally affecting the patient’s facial appearance and disguising any resulting scars.
• Injuries to the teeth and surrounding dental structures. This type of facial trauma includes special regions such as the eyes, facial nerves, or the salivary glands, and well as the teeth. Injuries to teeth are quite common and may involve treatment from various dental specialists. Oral surgeons typically address fractures in the supporting bone, or in replanting teeth if they have been displaced or knocked out. Other dental specialists may be needed as well, such as an endodontist to perform root canal therapy, or a restorative dentist to repair or rebuild fractured teeth.

For facial trauma, these injuries should be treated with urgency. Seek medical attention at an emergency room or urgent care facility as soon as you are safely able to do so.

For trauma injuries involving the teeth, contact an endodontist immediately. If your tooth has been completely knocked out, pick it up by the crown and attempt to put it back in the socket, holding it in place with a piece of sterile gauze. Alternatively, try holding the tooth between your cheek and gums until you reach the office. However, if the tooth has fallen to the ground, it should be placed in a small container of salt water or milk for the doctor to attempt reinsertion into the dental socket as soon as possible. Never attempt to wipe the tooth off, as remnants of the ligament that hold the tooth in the jaw are attached and are critical to the success of replanting the tooth. Seek care from an endodontist immediately for the best possible chance at preserving your natural tooth.

Facial injuries must be treated with both physical and emotional care, due to the trauma that can be involved with sustaining injuries to this area. At Santa Clara Oral Surgery and Dental Implants, you can rest assured that you are in good hands. Our team has extensive experience in providing the healing and nurturing care needed for emergency care, acute treatment and long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation for facial injuries.