Facial Trauma Reconstruction to Improve Function and Aesthetics 

Burns, automobile accidents, interpersonal violence, cancer surgery, and illness can dramatically affect your face both in aesthetics and function. Damage to the soft tissues and bones of the face can affect your ability to eat, talk, smile, or blink.

Facial reconstruction is the best solution to all your problems that can help improve function and your facial aesthetics, thereby boosting your self-confidence. Passaic dental surgeon and team are highly qualified and trained specialists that can manage and treat facial trauma. 

Classification of facial trauma 

The following are the main types of facial trauma:

• Soft tissue trauma: This includes skin lacerations, intraoral damage, and trauma to the facial nerves, eyes, and salivary glands.
• Avulsed teeth: Injuries to the teeth that can knock them off from the tooth socket.
• Fractured teeth: Cracks or fissures that cause splitting of the affected tooth
• Bony injuries: This includes fractures of the cheekbones, jawbones, eye sockets, palates, and nose. 

Facial reconstruction restores aesthetics and function

Facial trauma can negatively impact your quality of life due to poor aesthetics and function. It can also be a leading cause of serious health and dental concerns if not treated appropriately. 

Facial reconstruction is recommended for the following reasons:

• To restore functionality

When your teeth are subjected to trauma it can cause mobility making eating and speech difficult.

• To improve smile aesthetics

Chipped, broken, or missing teeth can be detrimental to an attractive smile.

• To correct bite or jaw irregularities

Facial trauma can lead to poor alignment of your teeth, thereby causing TMJ (temporomandibular joint) complications.

Facial reconstruction procedure 

Your dentist will first evaluate your facial injury to determine the type of facial trauma incurred to execute further course of action. Dental X-rays are recorded to detect any bone involvement. 

The treatment for different types of facial trauma is as follows:

• Loose tooth: Root canal therapy is performed with suitable crown placement.
• Avulsed tooth: The tooth is reinserted as early as possible. If the tooth lacks the ligament attachment, it can be splinted to adjacent teeth through dental bonding or wiring.
• Soft tissue lacerations: Treated successfully through suturing.
• Facial bone trauma: The broken fragments are held firmly through wiring or the insertion of small plates or screws.

Bottom line

Facial trauma can be excruciating physically, and emotionally. It can negatively impact your quality of life due to varying symptoms, poor function, and aesthetics. 

Fortunately, with the combined efforts of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, you can regain your lost confidence. However, post-reconstruction care is crucial for quick healing and faster recovery.