The most common causes of facial injuries include falls, motor vehicle accidents and sports injuries. Injuries to the facial region can impart not only physical injury but emotional trauma as well. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have received a minimum of 4 years of intensive hospital based surgical training and are uniquely trained in repairing both soft tissues (facial lacerations) and bony injuries to maxillofacial region( nose, cheek bones, jaw bones and eye sockets) and oral cavity (intraoral lacerations and knocked out or displaced teeth) to restore function and achieve esthetics.
If facial bones have been fractured or broken, they will be treated in much the same way as any other broken bone. Unlike other bones of the body, a plaster cast cannot be applied to a cheekbone, but the bones can be held firmly together by either wiring or the insertion of small plates and screws. Soft tissue lacerations are treated immediately by way of suture (stitching). Depending on the nature of the injury, treatment can take place in the hospital or in the office.