Facial Trauma

An oral and maxillofacial specialist is thoroughly qualified to repair facial injuries. These professionals are well versed in emergency care, acute treatment, and long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation. Injuries to the face, by their very nature, impart a high degree of emotional and physical trauma to patients. The science and art of treating these injuries requires special training involving hands-on experience and an understanding of how treatment will influence the patient’s long-term function and appearance.

Dr. Griffitts meets and exceeds these modern standards. He is trained, skilled, and uniquely qualified to manage and treat facial trauma. He is on staff at local hospitals and delivers emergency room coverage for facial injuries, which include the following conditions:

The Nature of Maxillofacial Trauma

There are a number of possible causes of facial trauma, including 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 to 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 the salivary glands).

Soft Tissue Injuries of the Maxillofacial Region

When soft tissue injuries like lacerations occur on the face they are repaired by suturing. When repairing these injuries, oral and maxillofacial surgeons take care to provide the best cosmetic result possible while treating damage to structures like facial nerves, salivary glands, and salivary ducts (or outflow channels). Dr. Griffitts is a well-trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon and is proficient at diagnosing and treating all types of facial lacerations.

Bone Injuries of the Maxillofacial Region

Fractures to the bones in the face 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 leg is fractured a cast is often applied to stabilize the bone and 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 jaws together for certain fractures of the upper and/or lower jaw. Other types of jaw fractures are best treated and stabilized by surgically placing small plates and screws at the site of the injury. This technique is called “rigid fixation” of a fracture. The relatively recent development and use of rigid fixation has profoundly improved the recovery period for many patients, allowing them to return to normal function more quickly.

Facial fractures should be treated in a thorough and predictable manner. The patient’s facial appearance should also be minimally affected. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon will always attempt to use the fewest number of incisions to access facial bones. Any incisions made are designed to be small and will be placed to hide the resultant scar whenever possible. 

Injuries to the Teeth & Surrounding Dental Structures

Isolated injuries to teeth are quite common and may require the expertise of various dental specialists. Oral surgeons are usually involved in treating fractures in the supporting bone or in replanting teeth that have been displaced or knocked out. These types of injuries are treated by a form of splinting (stabilizing by wiring or bonding teeth together).

If a tooth is knocked out, it should be placed in salt water or milk. The sooner the tooth is re-inserted into the dental socket, the better the chance it will survive. This means that a patient should see a dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible after a tooth is knocked out. Never attempt to wipe the tooth off, since remnants of the ligament that hold the tooth in the jaw are attached and are vital to the success of replanting the tooth.

Other dental specialists may also treat injuries to the teeth. For example, endodontists may perform root canal therapy, and restorative dentists may need to repair or rebuild fractured teeth. If injured teeth cannot be saved or repaired, dental implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth.

Specialists well-versed in emergency care, acute treatment, long-term reconstruction, and patient rehabilitation are best qualified to treat facial injuries.