The  dental specialist performs the proper treatment of facial injuries.  These professionals must be well versed in emergency care, acute  treatment and long term reconstruction and rehabilitation – not just  for physical reasons but emotional as well. Oral and Maxillofacial  Surgeons are trained, skilled and uniquely qualified to manage and  treat Facial Trauma. Injuries to the face, by their very nature, impart  a high degree of emotional, as well as physical trauma to patients. The  science and art of treating these injuries requires special training  involving a “hands on” experience and an understanding of how the  treatment provided will influence the patient’s long term function and  appearance.The doctors of Blecker and Ochs meet and  exceed these modern standards. They are trained, skilled and uniquely  qualified to manage and treat facial trauma. They are on staff at local  hospitals and deliver emergency room coverage for facial injuries,  which include the following conditions.

• Facial lacerations
• Intra oral lacerations
• Avulsed (knocked out) teeth
• Fractured facial bones (cheek, nose or eye socket)
• Fractured jaws (upper and lower jaw)

There  are a number of possible causes of facial trauma. Motor vehicle  accidents, accidental falls, sports injuries, interpersonal violence  and work related injuries. Types of facial injuries can range from  injuries of teeth to extremely severe injuries of the skin and bones of  the face. Typically, facial injuries are classified as either soft  tissue injuries (skin and gums), bone injuries (fractures), or injuries  to special regions (such as the eyes, facial nerves or the salivary  glands).

When  soft tissue injuries such as lacerations occur on the face, they are  repaired by suturing. In addition to the obvious concern of providing a  repair that yields the best cosmetic result possible, care is taken to inspect for and treat injuries to structures such as facial nerves, salivary glands and salivary ducts (or outflow channels). the doctors of Ochs and Dourmas are well-trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon and is  proficient at diagnosing and treating all types of facial lacerations.

Fractures  of the bones of the face are treated in a manner similar to the  fractures in other parts of the body. The specific form of treatment is  determined by various factors, which include the location of the  fracture, the severity of the fracture, the age and general health of  the patient. When an arm or a leg is fractured, a cast is often applied  to stabilize the bone to allow for proper healing. Since a cast cannot  be placed on the face, other means have been developed to stabilize  facial fractures.

none of these options involves wiring the jaws together for certain fractures of the upper and/or lower jaw. Certain other types of fractures of the jaw are best  treated and stabilized by the surgical placement of small plates and  screws at the involved site. This technique of treatment can often  allow for healing and obviates the necessity of having the jaws wired  together. This technique is called “rigid fixation” of a fracture. The  relatively recent development and use of rigid fixation has profoundly  improved the recovery period for many patients, allowing them to return  to normal function more quickly.

The  treatment of facial fractures should be accomplished in a thorough and predictable manner. More importantly, the patient’s facial appearance  should be minimally affected. An attempt at accessing the facial bones  through the fewest incisions necessary is always made. At the same  time, the incisions that become necessary are designed to be small and,  whenever possible, are placed so that the resultant scar is hidden.

Isolated injuries to teeth are quite common and may require the expertise of  various dental specialists. Oral surgeons usually are involved in  treating fractures in the supporting bone or in replanting teeth that  have been displaced or knocked out. These types of injuries are treated  by one of a number of forms of splinting (stabilizing by wiring or  bonding teeth together). If a tooth is knocked out, it should be placed  in salt water or milk. The sooner the tooth is re-inserted into the  dental socket, the better chance it will survive. Therefore, the  patient should see a dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible. Never  attempt to wipe the tooth off, since remnants of the ligament that hold  the tooth in the jaw are attached and are vital to the success of  replanting the tooth. Other dental specialists may be called upon such  as endodontists, who may be asked to perform root canal therapy, and/or  restorative dentists who may need to repair or rebuild fractured teeth.  In the event that injured teeth cannot be saved or repaired, dental implants are often now utilized as replacements for missing teeth.

The proper treatment of facial injuries is now the realm of specialists who  are well versed in emergency care, acute treatment, long term  reconstruction and rehabilitation of the patient.