Facial trauma is the damage to the face caused by assault, accident, sports injuries, chemical exposure, and any other external stimulant. Trauma injuries around your face, jaw, and mouth count as facial trauma.
Facial trauma affects can leave permanent scars on your face and can affect your breathing and other oral functions such as drinking water, chewing, smiling, laughing, etc. It requires immediate attention. Failure to do so can cause permanent loss of crucial motor functions such as chewing, swallowing, and speaking.
What are the types of facial trauma?
- Fracture: Facial fractures include the breakage of facial bones, jaw bone, cheekbones, and nasal cavity. A fracture can drastically affect the oral function and distort the appearance. Broken jaw, cracked teeth, and broken midface are the most common types of facial fractures.
- Soft tissue injury: Soft tissue injury includes minor and major lacerations on the skin inside or outside the mouth. It also includes torn skin, cuts, eye injuries, facial burns, etc. The course of treatment for soft tissue injury starts with controlling the swelling and bleeding in the mouth.
How is facial trauma diagnosed?
Physicians use a combination of tests, computed tomography, and CT to effectively assess the extent of facial trauma. The entire diagnosis includes the impact of trauma on facial bones, soft tissue, and blood vessels.
What is the course of treatment for facial trauma?
There are several courses of treatment for facial trauma, as it mostly depends upon the severity of the trauma and the extent of the injury. Procedures such as microvascular reconstructive surgery, grafting, and soft tissue repair are some of the most common ones.
You can consult your dental doctor or visit a dental clinic in Kannur. Or, you can request an appointment at Apollo Dental, Kannur. Call 18001020288 to book an appointment.
What are the risk factors for facial trauma?
Facial trauma can result in many complications such as:
- Brain swelling
- Infection
- Facial numbness
- Loss of vision
- Uneven face structure
- Loss of oral functions
What is the best way to prevent facial trauma?
- Precautions on the road: Road accidents contribute to more than 90% of all facial traumas. You should always wear proper seat belts while sitting in a four-wheeler. You should wear a decent-quality helmet when riding a motorcycle.
- Workplace protection: If you work in a factory or frequently visit places of construction, then you must wear headgear.
Conclusion
Facial trauma is a severe condition that results in excruciating pain. The patient needs immediate medical assistance and complex surgeries to restore function. The best dental doctors in Kannur can provide emergency dental care and surgeries for any severe or minor facial trauma.
Upper and lower jaw fractures, bone fractures, damage of the oral palate, loss of oral functions, and loss of vision and speech are the most common types of facial injuries.
The best way to reduce swelling of the face is by keeping your head elevated and icing it as soon as possible.
The human face is home to plenty of sensitive organs, small bones, blood vessels, nerves, and muscles. Untreated trauma can manifest in unforeseeable ways, which can directly result in permanent loss of oral functions.
