Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons manage facial trauma including fractures to the mandible (lower jaw), maxilla (upper jaw), zygoma (cheek bone) and orbit (eye socket). These injuries may be the result of assaults, falls, sporting injuries or road accidents.
Following an incident or accident, patients with facial injuries will usually present to their local hospital emergency department, or GP/medical centre where Xrays or CAT scans are arranged to diagnose a facial fracture. Our practice is trained in the diagnosis and management of all types of facial fractures, so when treatment is recommended we will discuss the surgical options and anticipated outcomes, hospital admission, risks, side effects and recovery times. Sometimes the fracture may be ‘undisplaced’ and may not require surgical intervention, but care and monitoring for several weeks. Any associated visual disturbances will need to be assessed and so a referral to an Opthalmologist may also be required in these cases.