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Injuries to the face and mouth increase in proportion to the number of road accidents, accidents at work, falls, beatings, and sports.
Injuries of the face and mouth
Face and mouth injuries may include:
- soft tissues, both without breaking the continuity and breaking the continuity of the skin and oral mucosa (abrasions, bruises, hematomas, wounds),
- teeth,
- bones of the face, jaw and mandible, including simple and displaced fractures,
- temporomandibular joint (mainly dislocations).
All soft tissue and facial bone injuries as well as jaw injuries, jaw dislocation and tooth injuries should be reported to the oral surgery clinic as soon as possible.
Types of injuries of the face and mouth
- Generally, a mandibular dislocation as a result of an injury is associated with a rupture of the temporomandibular joint capsule. In turn, loosening of the joint capsule usually occurs with habitual, repeated dislocation. Dislocation can occur on both sides, although it is usually unilateral in nature.
- Bilateral dislocation of the lower jaw – wide opening of the jaws, problems with closing the mouth are observed; in addition, there is severe pain in the temporomandibular joint. The chin is put forward, the cheeks are smooth, the muscles are tense. The patient has difficulty swallowing and speaking.
- Unilateral mandibular dislocation – the chin is moved away from the dislocated joint. In both cases, you should go to a dental surgery clinic immediately.
- Tooth injuries in children are very common, especially between the ages of 7-14 (more often in boys than in girls). Injuries occur as a result of a fall, impact, but also during sports. Injuries usually involve the front teeth, more often the jaw than the mandible. It is much easier to damage the teeth with malocclusion and badly positioned teeth.
As a result of an injury, the tooth may undergo distortions (its greater mobility is then detected), complete dislocation (then it falls out of the socket), fracture (crown, root or both), being forced into the alveolus, and at the same time the bone of the alveolar process may be damaged. Injury of deciduous teeth can damage the permanent tooth bud.
Diagnosis and treatment of facial and oral cavity injuries
In order to make a full diagnosis in the event of a tooth injury, it is necessary to conduct a clinical examination of the tooth and its vicinity, test the vitality of the pulp and take an X-ray.
The sooner the patient goes to the dentist after the injury, the greater will be the possibility of repairing the damage with the smallest complications and consequences. Sometimes a medical procedure performed immediately after the injury will keep the pulp of the tooth alive, which is important even in the event of complete loss of the tooth. Then it is necessary to go to the doctor as soon as possible together with the secured tooth in order to protect it from drying out and contamination. An attempt may be made to replant it.
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