Facial Trauma, Paramus, NJ
Repairing facial injuries is entirely within the scope of an oral and maxillofacial specialist. These specialists are skilled in providing emergency care, prompt treatment, and long-term repair and rehabilitation, not only for emotional but also for physical reasons. Face injuries are particularly traumatic for patients on an emotional as well as a physical level by their sheer nature. It takes specialized training, “hands-on” experience, and knowledge of how the therapy given will affect the patient’s long-term function and appearance to treat these injuries.
These contemporary requirements are met and exceeded by Dr. Shnayder. They have the knowledge, abilities, and special qualifications needed to handle and treat facial damage. They provide emergency department coverage for facial injuries, including the following conditions:
- Facial lacerations
- Intraoral lacerations
- Avulsed (knocked out) teeth
- Fractured facial bones (cheek, nose, or eye socket)
- Fractured jaws (upper and lower jaws)
Maxillofacial Trauma’s Nature
Numerous events, including car accidents, unintentional falls, sports injuries, acts of interpersonal aggression, and workplace mishaps, may result in face trauma. Dental injuries to highly serious damage to the skin and bones of the face may all fall under the category of facial injuries. Facial injuries are often divided into three categories: soft tissue (skin and gums), bone (fractures), and specific locations (such as the eyes, facial nerves, or salivary glands).
Injury to the Maxillofacial Soft Tissue
On the face, sutures are used to treat soft tissue injuries like lacerations. Care is taken to check for and treat damage to structures including face nerves, salivary glands, and salivary ducts (or outflow channels), in addition to the obvious goal of delivering a repair that produces the greatest aesthetic outcome possible. As a skilled oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Shnayder is skilled in identifying and managing all kinds of facial lacerations.
Injury to the Maxillofacial Bones
Similar to fractures in other sections of the body, facial bone fractures need comparable treatment. The location and severity of the fracture, as well as the patient’s age and overall condition, all play a role in determining the best course of therapy. Casts are often used to support broken bones so that the arm or leg can recover properly. Other methods of stabilizing facial fractures have been developed since a cast cannot be applied to the face.
One of these approaches is connecting the jaws together for certain upper- and/or lower-jaw fractures. The best way to treat and stabilize several other forms of jaw fractures is by the surgical implantation of tiny plates and screws at the affected spot. This kind of therapy often promotes healing and does not require the use of wires to connect the jaws. This method of “rigid fixation” is used for fractures. Many patients’ recovery times have been significantly accelerated by the relatively recent invention and use of rigid fixation, enabling them to resume normal function more rapidly.
A careful and predictable approach should be used while treating face fractures. More significantly, there should be little to no change in the patient’s face. There is usually an effort to reach the facial bones with the fewest possible incisions. At the same time, any incisions that are required are planned to be tiny and, if at all possible, situated to conceal the resulting scar.
Damage to the Teeth and Related Dental Structures
It is not uncommon for teeth to sustain isolated damage, which may call for the assistance of different dental professionals. Usually, oral surgeons are engaged in the treatment of supporting bone fractures or the replacement of missing or knocked-out teeth. One of many techniques of splinting (stabilizing by wire or gluing teeth together) is used to treat these kinds of injuries. When a tooth is knocked out, it should be put in milk or saltwater. The tooth has a higher chance of surviving if it is placed back into the dental socket as soon as possible. Therefore, the patient should schedule an appointment with a dentist or oral surgeon very soon. Never try to wipe the tooth off because the ligament that holds the tooth in the jaw is still connected and necessary for the tooth to be successfully replanted. It may be necessary to consult with other dental professionals, such as endodontists who can conduct root canal treatment or restorative dentists who can fix or replace broken teeth. Dental implants are increasingly often used as tooth replacements in cases where damaged teeth cannot be preserved or repaired.
Specialists who are knowledgeable in emergency care, acute treatment, long-term reconstruction, and patient rehabilitation are now responsible for the effective treatment of face injuries.