There are an infinite number of ways in which the face can be damaged and thus need some type of reconstruction. Accidents, falls, automobile accidents, and interpersonal violence are among the most common causes. Some of the main types of facial injuries resulting from these instances are soft tissue lacerations, fractured teeth, fractured jaws, fractured facial bones, and avulsed teeth.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue trauma includes lacerations to the skin and any kind of intraoral soft tissue damage which can include:

• lacerations,
• abrasions, and
• avulsed tissues of the facial skin, neck, scalp, and intraoral tissues.

Avulsed Teeth

Injuries to the teeth are very common and must be dealt with immediately to ensure success of re-implantation. Generally, teeth that are completely avulsed need to be replanted within 45 minutes or they will not heal. The best recommendations are to either place the tooth immediately back into the socket or place it in milk. Either way, you will need to call Dr. Mueller immediately to expeditiously treat the tooth.

Bony Injuries

High-velocity injuries to the head and face can cause fractures of the:

• skull forehead,
• eye sockets,
• cheekbones,
• nose, and
• upper and lower jaws.

If facial bones have been fractured, they will be treated in much the same way as any other broken bone. Of course, a plaster cast cannot be applied to a cheekbone, but the bones can be held firmly together by the insertion of small titanium plates and screws. No, the plates will not set off the metal detectors at the airport. Soft tissue lacerations will be treated immediately by way of suture (stitching).

In cases where a tooth has been completely avulsed from the mouth, there is still a possibility of reinserting it. The quicker a re-insertion can be performed, the greater the likelihood that the natural tooth will survive. If the tooth cannot be replanted, Dr. Mueller can place a dental implant to restore both functionality and aesthetic appearance. Dr. Mueller can also “splint” displaced teeth using structural support such as bonding or wiring with a good amount of success. Root canal therapy is also a possibility for loose or broken teeth.

Dr. Mueller will conduct a thorough examination as well as request specific imaging studies. This may involve CT and MRI studies, x-rays, and at times, 3-D model reconstructions from these studies. Once all injuries are documented, Dr. Mueller will formulate a comprehensive treatment plan.

Aside from the obvious cosmetic/aesthetic reasons for repairing damage to the face, several serious health and dental concerns can arise from even a small amount of trauma. Facial injuries should not be taken lightly. Depending on the exact location of the injury, respiration, speech, and swallowing can be greatly impaired.

Though Dr. Mueller treats most broken facial bones in the operating room, damage to the teeth can be quickly dealt with urgently in his outpatient center.

Failure to treat dental and facial trauma can lead to the following longer-term problems:

• Loss of Functionality: When teeth have fallen victim to trauma, they may become loose in their sockets and make eating and speaking much more difficult.
• Smile Aesthetics: Chipped, broken, or missing teeth can be detrimental to a beautiful smile. The dentist can repair chips and fractured teeth easily. Dr. Mueller can replace lost teeth with implants.
• Bite/Jaw Irregularities: After trauma, the teeth may become badly aligned. The poor alignment of the teeth can lead to TMJ, uneven teeth wear, and other complications.

The three types of facelifts that we offer:

• the weekend facelift (small),
• the mini-facelift (medium), and
• the comprehensive facelift (large)

all address specific aging issues. A real facelift addresses issues such as jowling, platysmal neck bands, and the deep layers of the face and the neck, again, depending on the degree of aging.

Franchise and trendy micro-lifts do not address any of these issues and do not have longevity. Conservative facelift procedures do have a place, but only in our younger clients with minor aging. You would not want to waste your hard-earned money on a small lift when you really need a large procedure. A real facelift takes 10-14 days to recover. Don’t fall for high-priced television ads and advertised “miracle cures.”