Heart of Texas Oral Surgery Logo

Other Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Procedures

Facial Trauma

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are trained, skilled and uniquely qualified to manage and treat Facial Trauma. Our doctors provide emergency room coverage for facial injuries including:

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

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.

Injuries to the Teeth and Surrounding Dental Structures

Isolated injuries to teeth are quite common and may require the expertise of various dental specialists. Oral surgeons in Austin usually are involved in treating fractures in the supporting bone or in replanting teeth that have been displaced or knocked out.

A Helpful Hint

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 for the survival of the tooth, so see a dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible. NEVER attempt to wipe the tooth off, since remnants of the ligament which hold the tooth in the jaw are attached and are vital to the success of replanting the tooth.

Oral Pathology

Inside your mouth is a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any change in appearance could be a warning sign of a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer.

Watch out for:

  • Reddish patches (erythroplasia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth
  • A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
  • A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth
  • Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
  • Difficulty in chewing or swallowing

Pay attention to the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face, and/or neck for changes. Pain does not always occur with pathology and, curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer.

Facial trauma specialists recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly. Remember that your mouth is one of your body’s most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. Please contact us so we may help.