Facial Trauma/Fractures
Restoring Form and Function After Facial Injury in Los Angeles
A facial injury can happen in an instant and leave lasting physical and emotional effects. Whether from a car accident, a sports collision, a fall, or an assault, injuries to the face affect your ability to eat, speak, breathe, and feel like yourself. The face is one of the most structurally complex regions of the body, involving delicate bones, nerves, muscles, and soft tissue that must all work together. When any part of that system is disrupted, treatment requires not just surgical skill, but a deep understanding of how today’s care will shape tomorrow’s function and appearance.
At Wilshire Oral Surgery and Implant Center, Dr. Jonathan R. Shadi and Dr. Saman Vahedi bring advanced training from UCLA and USC’s School of Dentistry, with residency and hospital-based surgical experience that uniquely qualifies them to manage facial trauma from emergency stabilization through long-term reconstruction. Their training covers the full continuum of care, addressing physical recovery and the emotional dimension of facial injury.
What Facial Trauma Includes
Facial trauma refers to any traumatic injury affecting the face, mouth, jaw, or surrounding structures. According to a 2024 review published in PMC, effective management of craniomaxillofacial trauma requires a multidisciplinary approach, with the oral and maxillofacial surgeon playing a central role in fracture reduction, bone reconstruction, soft tissue repositioning, and restoration of function and aesthetics. The types of injuries our team treats include:
How Facial Trauma Is Treated
No two facial injuries are the same, and treatment depends on the location, severity, and combination of structures involved. Dr. Shadi and Dr. Vahedi evaluate each case thoroughly and develop a personalized plan that addresses both immediate stabilization and long-term reconstruction.
For soft tissue injuries, treatment typically involves careful suturing techniques designed to minimize visible scarring and preserve normal function. For facial bone fractures, unlike fractures elsewhere in the body, a cast is not possible. Instead, our surgeons surgically place small titanium plates and screws to hold the fractured bones in their correct anatomical position while they heal. For the jaw specifically, this may involve wiring or immobilization techniques during the initial healing phase.
Dental injuries require prompt attention. If a tooth has been knocked out, bringing it to our office in a container of milk or saliva within 30 minutes significantly improves the chance of successful reimplantation. Damaged tooth sockets may also be repaired, and in cases where teeth cannot be saved, dental implants can restore full function and appearance. For cases involving significant bone loss after trauma, bone grafting may be part of the reconstruction plan.
What to Do After a Facial Injury
If you or someone you know has experienced a facial injury, getting to care quickly makes a meaningful difference in outcomes. While serious injuries require emergency room care first, many facial trauma cases can be treated in our office once you are medically stable. For non-emergency injuries such as lacerations, fractured facial bones without airway compromise, or dental trauma, you should call our office as soon as possible. We make every effort to see facial trauma patients the same day.
For any procedure involving significant trauma repair, our team offers IV sedation and general anesthesia to keep you comfortable throughout treatment. After care, we provide detailed post-operative guidance to support healing and reduce the risk of complications.
What to Expect During Recovery
Recovery from facial trauma unfolds in stages. Understanding what to expect at each phase can help you prepare and recognize when healing is on track.
Frequently Asked Questions About Facial Trauma
What makes oral and maxillofacial surgeons the right choice for facial trauma care?
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons complete medical and dental school followed by hospital-based surgical residency training, including rotations in emergency care settings. This training focuses specifically on the face, jaw, mouth, and surrounding structures, making it the most focused preparation for managing the full range of facial injuries, from lacerations and dental trauma to complex bone fractures.
Can a knocked-out tooth be saved after facial trauma?
In many cases, yes. The best chance of saving a knocked-out tooth is to get to an oral surgeon within 30 minutes. Store the tooth in milk or your own saliva and do not wipe or scrub it, as the ligament fibers attached to the root are critical for reimplantation. If the tooth cannot be saved, dental implants can restore full function and appearance.
How are facial bone fractures repaired without a cast?
Facial bones cannot be immobilized in a cast the way arm or leg fractures can. Instead, surgeons use small titanium plates and screws placed through carefully positioned incisions to hold the fractured bone in its proper position while it heals. In jaw fractures, temporary wiring or splinting may also be used. The plates are designed to be permanent and do not typically need to be removed.
Do I need to go to the emergency room first for facial trauma?
If you are experiencing difficulty breathing, severe uncontrolled bleeding, loss of consciousness, or signs of a head injury, go to the nearest emergency room immediately. For injuries that are serious but not life-threatening, including fractured jaw, facial lacerations, or knocked-out teeth, call our office directly. We can often see facial trauma patients the same day and will coordinate with emergency providers as needed.
What is the recovery timeline after facial fracture surgery?
Recovery varies based on the complexity of the fracture and the structures involved. Soft tissue injuries typically heal within one to two weeks. Bone fractures generally require six to twelve weeks for full healing, with dietary modifications such as soft foods during that period. Our team provides detailed post-operative instructions and follows your progress to ensure healing is on track.
Will there be visible scarring after facial laceration repair?
Minimizing visible scarring is a priority in facial laceration repair. Our surgeons use layered closure techniques, precise suture placement, and incision positioning that works with the natural lines of the face to reduce the appearance of scars. The final appearance of a scar continues to improve for up to a year following surgery as the tissue matures.