We Can Help After You Have Experienced Facial Trauma

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Facial trauma in Valencia CA can leave you with lasting pain, disfigurement, or problems with your oral health. Dr. R. Dean Lang, Dr. Brent J. Ramsey, and the dental team at Heritage Oral Surgery & Implant Centers in Valencia, West Valley, and Palmdale, California are available to help you look and feel your best as quickly as possible.

Understanding the Main Types of Facial Trauma

If you have one or more soft tissue injuries, it means that you have open wounds and cuts on your face due to a traumatic incident. Many people assume that they need to go to the nearest emergency room after sustaining soft tissue injuries, but did you know that your local maxillofacial surgeon can repair the wounds?

When you arrive at one of our clinics, Dr. Lang or Dr. Ramsey numbs the injured area and then stitches it to prevent further blood loss. Our oral surgeons take special care to preserve the muscles, joints, nerves, and ligaments in your face to prevent scarring or disfiguration.

Facial Bone Trauma

Broken bones in the face present a challenge for oral surgeons. Since they cannot place a cast and wiring the jaw has fallen out of favor, our dentists use a technique to help the bones heal known as rigid fixation. This procedure involves placing several screws and plates into the broken bones to stabilize them and promote healing.

Rigid fixation produces less discomfort and patients recover faster than they would from jaw wiring or other outdated oral surgery procedures. The structure and shape of the face return to pre-injury status in most cases.

Dental Trauma

Having a tooth partially or fully knocked out is a common experience, yet it is traumatic when it happens to you. We encourage you to act quickly and pick up the tooth or any portion of it you can find, place it in a container, and contact our office for emergency dental care. If you get to us quickly and can find the tooth after knocking it out, there is a good chance one of our oral surgeons can reattach it.

Please reach out to us immediately after experiencing facial trauma in West Valley CA, Valencia, or Palmdale.

5 Most Common Causes of Facial Trauma

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Facial trauma, encompassing a range of injuries to the face, jaw, teeth, and mouth, is a common concern addressed by oral surgeons. These injuries can result from several kinds of accidents, which can negatively impact a person’s oral health, appearance, and overall well-being. Here are the four most common causes of facial trauma that your oral surgeon in Palmdale, CA, encounters:

1. Vehicle Accidents
Vehicle accidents, inclusive of cars, motorcycles, and even bicycles, are a leading cause of severe facial trauma. High-speed collisions, in particular, can result in fractures to the jaw, cheekbones, orbital sockets, and loss of teeth. Oral surgeons play a crucial role in reconstructing the facial structure and replacing lost teeth with dental implants, restoring both function and aesthetics.

2. Falls
Falls, whether from a significant height or even slipping on level ground, can cause considerable facial injuries. Older adults and children are particularly at risk, as they are more likely to fall. Injuries can range from soft tissue damage to complex fractures in the facial bones. Oral surgeons are skilled in addressing these injuries, ensuring proper healing and rehabilitation.

3. Sports Injuries
Sports-related incidents, especially in contact sports like football, hockey, or martial arts, can result in facial trauma. Protective gear can reduce the risk, but accidents can still lead to broken jaws, knocked-out teeth, and other facial injuries. Oral surgeons in Palmdale, CA, often work with athletes to manage these injuries, offering treatments such as bone grafting and dental implants.

4. Physical Assaults
Physical assaults are a distressing cause of facial trauma, leading to a wide range of injuries, from soft tissue damage to complex fractures. Oral surgeons are integral in the multidisciplinary approach to treating these injuries, focusing on functional restoration and cosmetic repair to help victims recover physically and emotionally.

5. Work-Related Accidents
Certain occupations, particularly those involving physical labor or the use of machinery, pose risks for facial injuries. Oral surgeons address these injuries by providing whatever’s needed, including emergency care, reconstructive surgery, or dental implants.

The expertise of oral surgeons in Palmdale, CA, is vital in treating all kinds of facial trauma. For more information or to book an appointment, please contact our offices today.

Beautiful young woman covering her mouth with hand. Isolated.

How to Prevent Facial Trauma

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Facial injuries and facial trauma can result in the need for oral surgery. Both professional and weekend athletes need to be aware of the risks involved with certain activities and how to prevent facial trauma. If you do experience facial trauma in Canoga Park, CA, you can rely on the team at Heritage Oral Surgery to get you through it.

What is Facial Trauma?

Facial trauma is generally recognized as any sort of blunt force trauma that occurs in the facial region. Facial trauma can injure various parts of the face and neck, including:

  • Jaw
  • Teeth
  • Gum tissue
  • Nose
  • Sinus cavity
  • Eye socket
  • Cheekbone
  • Chin
  • Cranium

If you or a loved one experiences facial trauma in Canoga Park, CA, please contact Heritage Oral Surgery right away for treatment and help about what steps to take.

Common Causes of Facial Trauma

The most common causes of facial trauma involve physical activity like sports. Facial trauma is common with professional athletes, but it can also happen to weekend athletes, amateur athletes or just about anyone else. It can happen in the school yard, in the backyard, on the track, on sports fields, in swimming pools and on the road. Facial trauma is also commonly seen as a result of vehicular accidents. At Heritage Oral Surgery, facial trauma is treated as a serious condition, no matter how it occurred.

How to Prevent Facial Trauma

Many occurrences of facial trauma can be prevented or at least minimized with certain preventative measures. Here are some ways to consider for preventing facial trauma in your life:

  • Always wear a seat belt while traveling in any vehicle
  • Allow extra time to arrive at a destination so you don’t feel the urge to exceed posted speed limits
  • Always wear a helmet while on a motorcycle or bicycle
  • Wear safety goggles while doing woodworking
  • Wear appropriate helmet or headgear while participating in sports like white water rafting, ice hockey, etc.
  • Wear a mouthguard during sports activities
  • Wear helmets and mouth guards even during family “fun” sports
  • Take time to learn new sports slowly to avoid needless mistakes and injuries

Facial trauma can be frightening and painful. You’re in good hands with the experts at Heritage Oral Surgery in Canoga Park, CA. Contact us today to learn more.