Sustaining Damage To The Facial Region

Have you ever noticed that one of our primary responses to a potential accident is the immediate attempt to guard our face and head?

When somebody throws a punch or if we get involved in an automotive collision, our arms and hands travel to our face in order to make an effort to shield ourselves from any major harm. Most of the time, we fail to even contemplate the motion of protecting our face– we just do this instantly.

Maxillofacial trauma is injuries that are in danger of being immediately disregarded, and this lapse can lead to severe challenges and irritation later if they are not managed in a timely manner. This form of facial trauma can lead to soft tissue damage, nasal and orbital fractures, mandibular fractures, as well as other concerns. Any type of injury that is sustained to the maxillofacial location requires specialized treatment and observation simply because so many of our significant sensory systems and critical structures are situated in the head, neck, and face.

Mandibular fractures, also called jaw fractures, are the second most common skeletal facial injury only after nasal fractures. In fact, it is believed that mandibular fractures create as much as 70% of maxillofacial injuries. This is a result of the way our jaws naturally stick out and since the chin has much less support from the cranium than other areas of the face. The mandibular is a movable U-shaped bone that connects on either side of the mandible. The mobility of this bone makes it possible for us to move our jaw and it also bears our teeth. Among the most common sources of mandible fractures include:

▪ Car Crashes
▪ Falls
▪ Assault
▪ Physical Activities

Signs and Symptoms of a Bone Fracture

Normally, the mandible will crack in two places, at the spot of the direct impact and also in the place directly opposite of the initial location. Every injury sustained to the mandible bone should be seen by medical professionals within 24 hours of the accident. The primary symptoms of mandibular fractures involve swelling, pain, redness, and loss of functionality specifically speaking, breathing and chewing. Further, bruising and numbness of the face and neck may follow these bone fractures. If a person fears that they have broken the mandible, it is critical to get medical attention as soon as possible. A broken mandible can possibly disrupt the air passage, impairing the ability to breathe.

Injury to the Teeth

Given that the jaw bone houses all of our teeth, oral damage is a concern when taking care of these kinds of traumas. Malocclusion is the incapability to correctly straighten the teeth as a result of damage. It can develop in any sort of combination of places involving the maxillary arch, mandibular arch, and the anterior and posterior sections. More things to watch out for can be missing teeth, root and tooth cracks, as well as chipped teeth. Treatment plans involve corrective dentistry, orthodontics, temporomandibular joint surgery, soft tissue repair, and other remedies depending on the type and intensity of the injury.

Oral Specialists

After a medical professional has determined the problem, they will often refer the patient to an oral or maxillofacial surgeon for additional procedures. Generally, oral and maxillofacial surgeons specialize in the identification and treatment solution of issues regarding the facial location. These types of professionals have been trained in both medical and dental professions to ensure that they are competent in
addressing a large variety of frequent oral surgical issues like:

▪ Salivary Gland Disorder
▪ Oral Cancer
▪ Face Injury
▪ Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Medical Treatment and Recovery

Orthognathic procedures, also known as corrective jaw surgery, is handled by the OMS–the oral and maxillofacial surgeon–once they have identified that this operation is suitable for the degree of trauma that the patient is suffering. When the jaw has been repositioned or restored, the doctor will use different methods to keep the mandible in the new position while it recovers. Medical items like surgical plates, screws, wires, and rubber bands will be installed in the mandible at the time of the procedure. Maxillofacial injuries and the resulting dental trauma require more than just one doctor to help the patient during treatment and recovery. For example, endodontists can conduct root canal surgery and restorative dentists can treat broken and cracked teeth.

For those who need surgery to cure their damages, the recuperation procedure can take around 6 weeks. A soft food diet regimen is vital during the course of this time frame because harder food items can lead the medical plates to fracture. Also, a great dental hygiene schedule at the time of the first couple of weeks following the operation will enable the surgery site to fight any type of disease. As stated by the King’s College Hospital, the patient needs to wash their mouth out with warm salt water or mouthwash a minimum of 3 times a day for a week immediately after surgery. A little soft-bristled toothbrush, like a child’s, is perfect to clean the teeth around the operation site. The King’s College Hospital even encourages that patients don’t smoke throughout the recovery process because it can easily enhance the threat of infection.

Maxillofacial trauma may be brought on by a number of experiences. It is important for the patient to find medical attention immediately if they feel that they might just have sustained a wound to the facial location, or if they suffer any one of the complications that have been listed above.

Dr. Faist is on social media! If you want more fun dental trivia and educational articles, follow him on his social media sites!