Over three million facial trauma cases are treated each year by oral and maxillofacial surgeons across the country. In fact, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are key members of most emergency room trauma teams in their area. Just like a cardiologist will be called upon to treat heart-related conditions, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon will be called up to manage and treat facial trauma cases.
We use our face for many vital functions, such as eating and breathing, making it extremely important to ensure that facial trauma is treated by an educated and qualified surgeon. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons undergo extensive specialty training to properly treat and repair disharmonies of the facial skeleton and mouth, along with a range of other dental and surgical problems. To become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Balaci was required to complete at least four years of comprehensive surgical training and medical education in addition to earning his dental degree. The hands-on experience he has received during his surgical residency has given him the confidence and skills to restore facial aesthetics and proportions, correct the functionality of the jaw, and replace missing or damaged teeth.
What causes facial trauma?
Various events in our patients’ day-to-day lives could lead to a facial trauma injury. Some of the most common causes of facial injuries include
- Sports injuries
- Accidents in the home
- Work-related injuries
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Physical assaults
- Falls
As you can see, there are numerous ways that the face and mouth can be affected by trauma situations, making each facial trauma case unique. The area of the face that is injured and the severity of that injury will determine which procedure must be performed to treat the trauma properly. In some cases, multiple treatments are necessary to fully restore the face and mouth to its original function and appearance. Some of the more commonly seen facial trauma injuries include
- Fractured facial bones (cheek, nose, or eye socket)
- Fractured jaws (upper and lower jaw)
- Avulsed (knocked-out) teeth
- Facial lacerations
- Intraoral lacerations
Minor injuries, such as knocked-out teeth or facial laceration, may only require the placement of dental implants or sutures. Serious incidents may involve a more complex approach and require the use of more than one treatment. In either case, it is extremely important to treat facial trauma cases quickly and efficiently to ensure that the mouth and face are fully restored and do not develop long-term complications, such as tooth misalignment, the development of disorders of the temporomandibular joint of the jaw, or jaw bone deterioration.
Dr. Balaci is on staff at both the Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Joseph’s Medical Center and is available to treat your facial trauma case at the location most convenient to you. One of his prominent clinical interests lies in the field of facial aesthetics, and he is pleased to assist you in restoring the natural look and function of your face and mouth following your facial trauma situation.
Where can I get facial trauma surgery near Lebanon?
Dr. Alex Balaci and the highly skilled team at Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery in Lebanon, PA, serve a wide region and provide the full scope of oral and maxillofacial procedures to correct functional and aesthetic problems, including facial trauma surgery.
