Facial Trauma: When to See an Oral Surgeon for an Emergency

Reviewed by Dr. Thao Le, DDS, MD

Accidents happen in the blink of an eye, leaving you with physical pain, emotional distress, and the need for urgent care.

If you have sustained an injury to your facial bones, nerves, or soft tissue, seeing an oral surgeon as soon as possible can make all the difference.

In this blog post, you will learn about the types of injuries an oral surgeon can treat, and why they’re uniquely qualified to handle these emergencies.

Table of Contents

• Understanding Facial Trauma
  • Types of Facial Trauma
• How Facial Trauma Happens
• When You Should See an Oral Surgeon
• How an Oral Surgeon Can Help
• Foley & Le Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: Emergency Oral Surgeon in Boulder CO

Understanding Facial Trauma

Facial trauma can vary in severity, from cuts and bruises to more severe injuries that affect your jaw, nasal bones, cheekbones, and teeth.

Types of Facial Trauma

• Bone fractures: These fractures are common in the nose, jaw, and eye socket areas.
• Soft tissue injuries: Cuts, bruises, or deeper injuries to muscles and facial nerves.
  These injuries can sometimes lead to facial paralysis or numbness, and they may require reconstructive surgery.
• Dental trauma: Injuries to teeth and gums, including broken teeth or a dislocated jaw.

How Facial Trauma Happens

Facial trauma can happen anytime, anywhere. Sometimes all it takes is one wrong step or a sudden impact.

Here are a few situations where facial injuries are most common:

• Car accidents – Often cause severe impacts to the face, leading to fractures in the facial bones, frontal bone, and jaw.
• Sports injuries – Physical sports like football, boxing, and soccer frequently result in facial injuries such as maxillofacial trauma or eye injuries.
• Falls or hits – An unexpected fall or direct trauma to the face can leave you with injuries ranging from soft tissue damage to bone fractures.
• Workplace accidents – High-risk jobs that involve lifting, carrying, or working at heights can increase the likelihood of facial injuries, sometimes involving the cervical spine.

When You Should See an Oral Surgeon

Not every facial injury is the same. Some may affect more than one area, like the eye socket or mandibular bone.

Signs you need urgent help

• Bone fractures: Visible swelling, bruising, or an unusual appearance in your facial structure could mean fractures in the nasal bones, jaw, or cheekbones.
• Eye and cheek injuries: If you notice pain or swelling around your eyes or cheekbones, you might have orbital fractures that require specialized care.
• Jaw or teeth damage: Any broken, loose, or missing teeth should be looked at immediately to prevent further damage.
• Nerve symptoms: If you feel numbness or notice difficulty moving parts of your face, it may indicate damage to facial nerves.

If you experience these signs, contact an oral surgeon to prevent long-term complications.

How an Oral Surgeon Can Help

Oral surgeons are specially trained to repair facial trauma, particularly maxillofacial injuries. They undergo extensive training to handle maxillofacial trauma with precision.

Here are some of the ways they can help:

• Bone fracture repair: Oral surgeons use techniques like plates and screws to stabilize and heal fractures in the jaw, nose, and other facial bones.
• Soft tissue reconstruction: Injuries affecting the skin, muscles, and facial nerves can be treated with reconstructive surgery, often involving stitches, grafts, or other techniques. This can address damage from sports-related injuries, direct injury, or even interpersonal violence.
• Dental trauma treatment: Oral surgeons can address broken or dislocated teeth and stabilize the jaw, preserving dental function and appearance.
• Post-injury care: After surgery, they guide you through recovery steps to ensure the healing process is as smooth as possible.

Foley & Le Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: Emergency Oral Surgeon in Boulder CO

Our highly trained oral and maxillofacial surgeons, Dr. Thao Le and Dr. Benjamin Foley have staff privileges at our local hospital and provide emergency department coverage for facial injuries such as facial lacerations, intra-oral lacerations, knocked-out teeth, and fractured facial and jaw bone. 
If you have sustained a facial injury and are searching for an emergency oral surgeon, proceed to your nearest emergency room. If you are in the Boulder area, call our oral surgery office at (303) 444-2255. Our office is located at 1420 28th St, Boulder, CO.