How Oral Surgery Can Help Treat You After Facial Trauma

Did you know that there are over 3 million incidents of facial trauma each year in the United States? Unfortunately, this can lead to disfigurement, chronic pain, etc. if not handled correctly. It can also significantly reduce your quality of life.

Let’s explore how facial trauma oral surgery can help if you experience this injury.

What Are the Common Causes of Facial Trauma?

There are many ways that you can suffer facial trauma. One of the most common is car accidents.

This can lead to damage to your teeth, jaws, and other parts of your face. Other causes include:

• Falls
• Sports injuries
• Fighting

Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to avoid these situations, and they may occur at unexpected times.

What Are Some Common Signs of Severe Facial Trauma?

If you have suffered severe facial trauma, you may experience:

• Loss of consciousness
• Intense pain
• Bleeding from the mouth or nose
• Swelling around the face
• Bruising around the eyes or cheeks
• Difficulty moving the jaw or teeth

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.

How Can Oral Surgery Help Treat Facial Trauma?

Oral surgery can help treat facial trauma in a number of ways. It’s crucial to understand them before you move forward so that you can set realistic goals.

Listed below are some of the most notable.

Repairing Soft Tissue Damage

As you might guess, one of the most common ways that oral surgeons help treat facial trauma is by repairing soft tissue damage. This includes stitching up lacerations and treating burns.

It’s essential to seek treatment for this as soon as possible so that you can prevent scarring or disfigurement.

Repairing Skeletal Damage

Oral surgeons can also help repair skeletal damage.

This includes setting bones that have been broken and performing surgery to correct jaw misalignments. This type of treatment is often done in conjunction with other specialists, such as plastic surgeons.

Tooth Replacement

Another common way that oral surgeons help treat facial trauma is by replacing teeth that have been lost.

This can be done through dental implants, bridges, or dentures. The goal is to restore your smile so that you can feel confident again. It’s important to note that this type of treatment often takes time to complete, so you may require multiple sessions.

What Should I Look For in an Oral Surgeon?

Not all oral surgeons are created equal. When you’re looking for someone to treat your facial trauma, it’s important to find someone who meets certain criteria.

Let’s take a look at the most important.

Their Level of Experience

It’s crucial to find an oral surgeon who has experience treating facial trauma. Although newer surgeons won’t always fall short of your goals, they will be much more likely to do so compared to somebody who is more established.

This will give you peace of mind knowing that they know what they’re doing. It will also help you get better results.

The Type of Treatment They Offer

As we’ve discussed, there are many different types of treatments for facial trauma.

Make sure to find an oral surgeon who offers the ones that you’re interested in. Otherwise, they may not be able to treat your injuries appropriately.

Their Location

It’s often best to find an oral surgeon who is close to you. This will make it easier to get to your appointments and ensure that you’re able to work with the same surgeon for your injuries.

However, it can be worth it in some cases to make a trip to see a better surgeon.

What Are the Red Flags That I Need to Watch Out For?

In addition to looking for the qualities we’ve discussed, it’s also important to watch out for red flags.

This will help you avoid getting scammed or working with an inexperienced surgeon. Some of the most common red flags include:

• They’re not certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• They’re not affiliated with a professional organization
• You don’t feel comfortable communicating with them

Be sure that you keep these factors in mind so that you can avoid issues when searching. Otherwise, you could run into additional complications in the future.

For example, working with an incompetent surgeon could cause your injuries to heal incorrectly. You may then have to have another procedure in order to fix their mistakes.

How Much Can I Expect to Pay?

The price you’ll pay will vary depending on the extent of your injuries. For example, someone who has only a few broken teeth will pay less than someone who has significant damage to the soft tissue of their face and injuries to their jaw.

However, you can expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for your treatment. Fortunately, many dentists offer financing options that can help you accommodate the costs. Be sure to ask about what’s available.

Dealing With Facial Trauma Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult

If you’re wondering what to do after facial trauma, working with an experienced oral surgeon can help you get the treatment you need.

Make sure to look for someone who meets the criteria we’ve discussed and avoid those who raise red flags. This will help ensure that you get the best results possible for your facial trauma injuries.

Want to learn more about what we can do? Be sure to reach out to us today and see how we can help you.