Facial injuries usually do not occur in isolation. For instance, the mouth and the cheek may sustain damage due to the same injury. A broken jaw typically leads to pain and inflammation, changes teeth alignment, and prevents the mouth from opening fully.

 

Unappealing Possible Outcomes

Midface fractures lead to inflammation, facial numbness, double vision, changes in teeth alignment, a sunken eyeball, and the inability to open the mouth completely. The treatment for a lower jaw fracture may include surgery, resting the jaw, or wiring the jaw shut until the bones heal.

Midface fractures can be addressed surgically. However, the patient will typically require surgery only in case the fracture leads to issues other than inflammation and pain, such as facial deformity.

Jaw fracture usually refers to a break of the mandible (lower jaw). At times, upper jaw (maxilla) fractures are called jaw fractures but are typically classified as facial fractures.

Successful surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides treatments for facial trauma to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and other towns and cities in this part of the US.

 

Treatment

• The patient should go to emergency immediately if they suspect a jaw fracture.

• It may be necessary to insert an endotracheal tube to aid breathing if the inflammation or bleeding initiates close to the breathing passages.

 

Mandible Fracture Treatment

Mandible fracture treatment involves allowing the jaw to rest enabling the bone to heal. In case of mild fractures, the treatment may only require the patient not to chew.

Therefore, doctors may prescribe a soft-food or liquid diet. More severe fractures, such as fractures with breaks in multiple places or where the ends of the bones separate (displaced fracture), may warrant jaw repair.

The doctor may screw metal plates into the bone on either side of the fracture. On top of this, they may wire the upper and lower jaw together for many weeks. The patient can only drink liquids via a straw if the jaw is wired shut. This may also pose a challenge in brushing teeth. Therefore, the doctor will prescribe a mouth rinse to be used twice a day.

The jaw will typically require strengthening exercises following many weeks of being wired shut. Certain mandible fractures near the ear are not immobilized in kids. Mild jaw motion restriction using a device for five to ten days will suffice.

 

Maxillary Fracture Treatment

These fractures are surgically treated in case they pose problems such as a change in teeth alignment, vision issues, restriction in jaw opening, facial numbness, a sunken eyeball, or an unwanted change in appearance.

The doctor will typically wait for a few days following the injury until the inflammation subsides to decide whether surgery is required. Surgical intervention usually involves fixing plates and screws. Following surgery, the jaws may require immobilization but only for a few days. The patient should consume only soft foods for several weeks after this treatment.

Tooth socket fractures can usually be treated with antibiotics. Focused surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and other suburbs and neighborhoods in this prolific part of the country for facial trauma treatments.

 

McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.