Facial and dental trauma, whether from a sports injury, a fall, or an accident, often needs prompt evaluation from someone trained specifically in the surgical treatment of the mouth, jaw, and face. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained in exactly this kind of emergency care, alongside routine procedures like implants and extractions.

Common types of facial and dental trauma we address:

• Avulsed (knocked-out) teeth, where time matters significantly — a tooth re-implanted within the first hour has a meaningfully better chance of survival than one addressed later
• Fractured or displaced teeth, ranging from minor chips to fractures extending below the gumline
• Jaw fractures, which may require surgical stabilization with plates and screws depending on severity and location
• Soft tissue lacerations of the lips, gums, tongue, or inside of the cheek
• Facial bone fractures, including the cheekbone and eye socket area, when trauma extends beyond the jaw itself

What to do immediately after a dental or facial injury:

• For a knocked-out permanent tooth, handle it only by the crown (not the root), rinse gently without scrubbing, and try to reinsert it into the socket if possible; if not, keep it in milk or saline and seek care immediately
• For significant bleeding, apply firm, steady pressure with clean gauze or cloth
• For suspected jaw fracture (difficulty closing the bite normally, significant swelling, or numbness), avoid moving the jaw more than necessary and seek emergency evaluation promptly
• For any facial trauma involving loss of consciousness, vision changes, or difficulty breathing, go to the emergency room immediately rather than a dental office

Why prompt evaluation matters so much with trauma cases: healing outcomes and the ability to save an injured tooth or repair soft tissue cleanly both depend heavily on how quickly appropriate treatment begins. Imaging, including CBCT scans, helps assess the full extent of injury quickly so treatment isn’t delayed by uncertainty.

What follow-up often looks like: trauma cases frequently involve coordination with a restorative dentist, endodontist, or orthodontist afterward, particularly for injured teeth that need root canal treatment or orthodontic repositioning once the acute injury has healed.

If you or a family member experiences a dental or facial injury, contact Falcon Implants & Oral Surgery right away. For anything involving loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty, or a suspected serious head injury, go to the emergency room first.