Hopefully, you will never have to experience a facial injury; however, there are thousands of cases of facial trauma admitted each year to hospitals in the United States. If you or someone you know experiences a facial trauma incident – we’re here to help! Whether you sustain a major injury that entails hospitalization or a minor injury, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are specialists in the treatment of facial injuries. In fact, many oral and maxillofacial surgeons are busy members of their local emergency room trauma teams. Dr. Zachary Weber is affiliated with Columbia University Medical Center and Westchester Medical Center. If you’ve been referred from an emergency room or think you have a minor facial injury, call us right away for a consultation.
To become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Weber has undergone unique and extensive training during his education that allows him to address a wide range of oral surgical problems. He completed six years of comprehensive surgical training and medical school education in addition to dental school training, making him extremely qualified as an expert in restoring the functionality of the jaw, repairing individual facial aesthetics, and replacing damaged or missing teeth.
Each facial trauma case is unique; there are several different ways that the face and mouth can be affected by trauma situations. Some of the more common facial trauma injuries include:
- Avulsed (knocked-out) teeth
- Facial lacerations
- Fractured jaws (upper and lower jaw)
- Fractured facial bones (cheek, nose, eye socket, or forehead)
- Intraoral lacerations
What Causes Facial Trauma?
Numerous events can contribute to facial trauma injuries, including falls, sports injuries, physical assaults, automobile accidents, work-related injuries, and accidents in the home. The kind of injury sustained will determine which treatment the patient will receive that is necessary to correct the problem. Minor injuries, which include knocked out teeth or minor facial lacerations, may only require the placement of dental implants or sutures. More serious incidents, including fractured jaws, may involve a more complex approach requiring more than one treatment.
It is important to treat all cases of facial trauma in a timely manner. If treatment is delayed, you may incur long-term problems and complications. Failure to treat facial trauma can result in impacted teeth, degeneration of the jaw bone, misalignment of the jaw and bite, the development of disorders in the temporomandibular joint of the jaw, and facial disfigurement or long-term discomfort.
If you have suffered a facial injury of any sort, we encourage you to contact our office immediately. At Northern Westchester Oral Surgery, we strive to provide compassionate care to help restore oral function and aesthetics to every patient who has experienced a trauma situation.