Facial injuries often happen without warning and need prompt, skilled care. At The Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, patients from Katy, Fulshear, and Richmond, TX receive focused treatment for facial trauma that affects appearance, function, and comfort. With timely care, many complications can be reduced, and healing can begin sooner.
What Is Facial Trauma Surgery?
Facial trauma surgery treats injuries to the bones, teeth, and soft tissues of the face. This includes facial fracture repair, broken jaw treatment, and care for serious dental injuries. An emergency oral surgeon evaluates both visible damage and underlying structural issues before recommending a course of treatment.
Specialized care for facial injuries
Facial trauma often involves several areas at once, such as the jaw, cheeks, nose, or eye sockets. Treatment may include stabilizing fractures, repairing soft tissue, or repositioning bone segments. Care is planned to support healing while protecting facial movement and bite alignment.
Understanding your injury: soft tissue vs. bone
Soft tissue injuries involve the skin, gums, lips, and facial muscles. Facial fractures affect the jaw, cheekbones, or other facial bones and may change how your teeth fit together. Distinguishing between these injuries helps guide the right facial fracture repair approach.
Knocked-out or dislodged teeth
If a tooth is knocked out, keep it moist in milk or saliva and avoid touching the root. Call immediately for guidance, as fast action may improve the chance of saving the tooth.
The nature of maxillofacial trauma
There are several possible causes of facial trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents, accidental falls, sports injuries, and work-related injuries. Types of facial injuries can range from injuries to teeth to extremely severe injuries to the skin and bones of the face.
Typically, facial injuries are classified as either soft tissue injuries (skin and gums), bone injuries (fractures), or injuries to special regions (such as the eyes, facial nerves, or the salivary glands).
Soft tissue injuries of the maxillofacial region
When soft-tissue injuries, such as lacerations, occur on the face, they are repaired with sutures. In addition to the obvious concern of providing a repair that yields the best possible cosmetic result, care is taken to inspect for and treat injuries to structures such as facial nerves, salivary glands, and salivary ducts (or outflow channels). Our surgeons are well-trained oral and maxillofacial surgeons proficient at diagnosing and treating all types of facial lacerations.
Bone injuries of the maxillofacial region
Fractures of the bones of the face are treated like fractures in other parts of the body. The specific treatment is determined by factors such as fracture location, severity, age, and overall health.
When an arm or leg is fractured, a cast is often applied to stabilize the bone and promote proper healing. Because a cast cannot be applied to the face, alternative methods have been developed to stabilize facial fractures.
One option is to wire the jaws together for certain fractures of the upper and/or lower jaw. Certain other types of fractures of the jaw are best treated and stabilized by the surgical placement of small plates and screws at the involved site. This treatment technique can often promote healing and remove the need for wired jaws.
This technique is called “rigid fixation” of a fracture. The relatively recent adoption and use of rigid fixation have significantly shortened the recovery period for many patients, enabling them to return to normal function more quickly.
The treatment of facial fractures should be accomplished thoroughly and predictably. More importantly, the patient’s facial appearance should be minimally affected. An attempt is made to access the facial bones with the fewest necessary incisions. At the same time, the incisions that become necessary are designed to be small and, whenever possible, are placed so that the resultant scar is hidden.
Injuries to the teeth and surrounding dental structures
Isolated tooth injuries are quite common and may require the expertise of various dental specialists. Oral surgeons are usually involved in treating fractures in the supporting bone or in replanting teeth that have been displaced or knocked out. These injuries are treated with one of several splinting methods (stabilizing by wiring or bonding teeth together). 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 the chance it will survive. Therefore, the patient should see a dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible. Never attempt to wipe the tooth off, since remnants of the ligament that hold the tooth in the jaw are attached and are vital to the success of replanting the tooth.
Other dental specialists, such as endodontists, may be asked to perform root canal therapy, and/or restorative dentists who may need to repair or rebuild fractured teeth. When injured teeth cannot be saved or repaired, dental implants are often used to replace missing teeth.
The proper treatment of facial injuries is now the domain of specialists who are well-versed in emergency care, acute treatment, long-term reconstruction, and patient rehabilitation. Please call us at 281-392-1130, and we will ensure prompt and exceptional care.
Who Needs Facial Trauma Surgery?
You may need facial trauma surgery after accidents, sports injuries, falls, or assaults. Signs include facial swelling, pain when biting, loose teeth, numbness, or visible changes in facial shape. A facial trauma surgeon can determine whether surgery or close monitoring is needed.
What Happens During the Procedure
Your evaluation begins with a focused exam and detailed imaging, such as X-rays or CT scans. These images help identify facial fractures, jaw misalignment, dental injuries, and soft-tissue damage that may not be visible on the outside.
Based on these findings, your surgeon creates a treatment plan to restore facial structure and function. Surgery may involve carefully repositioning broken facial bones, securing them with small plates or screws, repairing soft tissue injuries, or stabilizing the jaw to support proper bite alignment.
Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment may be performed using local anesthesia, IV sedation, or general anesthesia. Many facial trauma procedures are completed on an outpatient basis, though some patients may need short-term observation for safety.
What to Expect During Recovery
Recovery depends on the type of injury and the extent of repair. Swelling, bruising, and facial soreness are common during the first one to two weeks and improve gradually with time.
You may be advised to follow a soft or liquid diet to reduce stress on healing bones and the jaw. Activity restrictions are often recommended to protect the surgical area and support proper bone healing.
Follow-up visits allow your surgeon to monitor healing progress, check bite alignment, and assess jaw movement. These appointments help confirm that facial structures are healing as planned and functioning comfortably.
Benefits of Facial Trauma Surgery
Facial trauma surgery offers several important benefits that support healing, function, and long-term facial stability, including:
- Restores facial structure after injury
- Supports proper bite and jaw movement
- Reduces long-term complications from untreated fractures
- Addresses both functional and visible concerns
- Provides coordinated care for complex injuries
Cost of Getting Facial Trauma Surgery in Katy, TX
The cost of facial trauma surgery varies based on injury type, imaging needs, and treatment complexity. Insurance may cover portions related to emergency care. The team can review expected costs and discuss payment options during your visit.
Why Choose The Center for Oral & Facial Surgery for Your Facial Trauma Care
At The Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, you receive care from highly trained oral and maxillofacial surgeons who focus on facial injuries and complex surgical needs. The practice has served patients in Katy, Fulshear, and Richmond, TX for over 30 years with respect and compassionate care.
Dr. Justin R. Brock brings more than 15 years of surgical experience. He holds both a dental and medical degree, giving him a dual perspective that supports safe and thorough care for facial trauma and related conditions. He uses advanced imaging and surgical techniques to guide treatment and help protect your long-term function and comfort.
Dr. Christopher D. Morris, DDS, MD, FACS, is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon who completed extensive residency training, including general surgery and trauma care. He has managed facial injuries in both adult and pediatric Level I trauma centers and contributes to professional research and education in facial anatomy and trauma management.
Together, Dr. Brock, Dr. Morris, and the team provide thorough surgical planning, clear communication, and attentive follow-up to support your recovery and function after facial injury.
How our surgeons can help
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained, skilled, and uniquely qualified to manage and treat facial trauma. 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, experience, and an understanding of how the treatment provided will influence the patient’s long-term function and appearance.
Our surgeons at The Center for Oral & Facial Surgery meet and exceed these standards. They are trained, skilled, and uniquely qualified to manage and treat facial trauma. They are on staff at local hospitals and deliver emergency room coverage for facial injuries, which include the following conditions:
- Facial lacerations
- Intraoral lacerations
- Avulsed (knocked out) teeth
- Fractured facial bones (cheek, nose, or eye socket)
- Fractured jaws (upper and lower jaw)
Frequently Asked Questions About Facial Trauma Surgery
Is facial trauma surgery always an emergency?
Not all injuries need immediate surgery, but prompt evaluation is essential. Delays can lead to bite problems or improper healing.
Can facial fractures heal without surgery?
Some minor fractures heal with rest and monitoring. More complex injuries often need surgical repair to support alignment and function.
What if a damaged tooth cannot be saved?
If a damaged tooth cannot be repaired, replacement may be recommended to restore function and stability. In these cases, we offer advanced dental implant options designed to replace missing teeth and support long-term bite alignment.
Will I have visible scars after treatment?
Incisions are planned carefully, often inside the mouth when possible. Scarring depends on injury type and healing response.
What to Do Next
Don’t wait. Untreated facial trauma can lead to long-term complications. Call us immediately for an emergency exam and contact our office at The Center for Oral & Facial Surgery in Katy, Fulshear, and Richmond, TX, to book a consultation.
Meet Our Surgeons
Dr. Justin R. Brock
Dr. Brock performs all aspects of oral, maxillofacial and reconstructive procedures. Dr. Brock’s interests...
Dr. Christopher D. Morris
Christopher D. Morris DDS, MD, FACS is a board certified oral maxillofacial surgeon whose surgical...
Related Services
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis, surgical, and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.
This comprehensive field of care also includes common procedures such as wisdom tooth extractions and dental implant placement, which help restore function, health, and aesthetics to the smile.
