Maxillofacial
Trauma Treatment
in Dallas–Fort Worth
Facial injuries demand immediate, specialized care from surgeons trained in both the science and the art of maxillofacial trauma. DFWOMS’s board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons provide emergency coverage and expert trauma treatment at our Irving, Mesquite, and Ennis locations — and at Baylor University Medical Center.
Facial injuries that demand specialist care
Maxillofacial trauma refers to any injury affecting the face, jaws, and surrounding structures — including the bones of the skull, the soft tissues of the face and mouth, the teeth, and specialized structures such as the eyes, facial nerves, and salivary glands. These injuries can range from isolated lacerations or a knocked-out tooth to complex multi-bone fractures involving the jaw, cheekbones, eye socket, and nose simultaneously.
Facial injuries carry a high degree of emotional as well as physical impact. The science and art of treating them require specialized training, hands-on surgical experience, and a deep understanding of how treatment decisions today will shape the patient’s long-term function and appearance. Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the designated specialists for these injuries — trained in emergency care, acute surgical treatment, and long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Common causes and injury categories
Maxillofacial trauma arises from a wide range of causes. Our surgeons treat all of the following at our offices and at Baylor University Medical Center:
Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons are on staff at local hospitals and provide emergency room coverage for facial injuries in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. When you or a family member arrives at the ER with a facial injury, our surgeons may be the specialists called in to evaluate and treat the injury. We also see patients directly at our offices for non-life-threatening facial trauma that requires urgent surgical care.
How facial trauma is classified & treated
Facial injuries are broadly classified into three categories, each requiring a distinct approach. Many patients present with a combination of all three.
Lacerations, punctures, abrasions, and burns to the skin, lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, and oral mucosa. When these occur on the face, they are repaired with careful suturing designed to minimize scarring and protect underlying structures. Our surgeons inspect every wound for damage to facial nerves, salivary glands, and salivary ducts — injuries to these structures that are missed or inadequately repaired can cause permanent functional deficits. We are trained to diagnose and manage all of these complications.
Fractures of the jaw, cheekbones, eye sockets, nasal bones, and other facial skeleton structures. Treatment depends on the fracture’s location, severity, degree of displacement, and the patient’s age and health. Options include conservative management with immobilization, intermaxillary fixation (wiring the jaws together), or surgical repair using internal rigid fixation — titanium plates, screws, and mesh that hold the repositioned bone securely while it heals, often eliminating the need for jaw wiring and allowing earlier return to function. All incisions are planned to minimize visible scarring.
Injuries to the teeth and their supporting bone — including fractured crowns, root fractures, luxated (displaced) teeth, and avulsed (knocked-out) teeth. Our surgeons treat fractures in the supporting alveolar bone and replant displaced or avulsed teeth using splinting techniques. If a tooth is knocked out, place it in milk or saline and contact us immediately — the sooner it is replanted, the better the chance of survival. Teeth that cannot be saved are ultimately replaced with dental implants.
From emergency care to long-term rehabilitation
Our surgeons assess the full extent of the injury — examining soft tissues, bones, teeth, nerves, and adjacent structures. Advanced imaging including CT scans is obtained to precisely map fracture patterns and identify all involved structures. Life-threatening conditions are addressed first; facial trauma treatment follows as a coordinated priority.
Soft tissue wounds are cleaned and sutured with careful attention to cosmetic outcome and structural integrity. Dental injuries are stabilized with splints. Fractures requiring immediate intervention — particularly those affecting the airway, vision, or causing significant functional impairment — are addressed urgently. Other fractures may be temporarily managed while swelling resolves before definitive repair.
Displaced facial fractures are surgically repaired using internal rigid fixation — titanium plates, screws, and mesh precisely positioned to restore the bone’s original anatomy. Surgery is performed through the fewest and smallest incisions possible, placed in locations where resultant scars will be hidden or minimally visible. For complex injuries, procedures are performed at Baylor University Medical Center.
Injured teeth are managed in coordination with endodontists (root canal specialists) and restorative dentists as needed. Teeth that cannot be saved are replaced with dental implants once adequate healing has occurred. For patients who lost multiple teeth or significant bone in the injury, implant placement may require prior bone grafting or reconstruction.
Some facial injuries require staged reconstruction over time — particularly those involving significant bone loss, nerve injury, or extensive soft tissue damage. Our surgeons monitor healing with follow-up imaging and appointments, addressing secondary corrections, scar management, or delayed reconstructive procedures as needed. Our goal is always full restoration of function, appearance, and quality of life.
The right team for maxillofacial trauma in Dallas–Fort Worth
Common questions about maxillofacial trauma treatment
If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms — severe bleeding that won’t stop, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or severe head injury — go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 immediately. For facial injuries that are serious but not immediately life-threatening — jaw pain, dental injuries, facial lacerations, or suspected fractures — you can contact DFWOMS directly for urgent evaluation. Our surgeons also provide ER coverage at local hospitals, so you may encounter our team at the ER as well.
Timing depends on the type and severity of the fracture. Fractures affecting the airway or vision require immediate treatment. Others can be managed within 1–2 weeks of injury before the bone begins to consolidate in its displaced position. After 2–3 weeks, fractures begin to fibrose, making repair substantially more complex. In many cases, a brief wait of several days allows acute swelling to subside before surgery, improving access and visualization. We will advise you on the optimal timing for your specific injury at evaluation.
Our surgeons make every effort to minimize scarring. Whenever possible, incisions for fracture repair are made inside the mouth or within natural skin folds, leaving no visible external scars. When external incisions are necessary — for example, to access the orbital rim or certain cheekbone fractures — they are placed as inconspicuously as possible and closed with meticulous technique. Lacerations from the original injury are repaired with careful attention to alignment and cosmetic outcome. Scars from well-placed incisions typically fade significantly over 6–12 months.
Handle the tooth only by the crown (the part normally visible in the mouth) — never touch or scrub the root. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline for no more than 10 seconds. If possible, reinsert the tooth gently into its socket and bite down on gauze to hold it. If reinsertion isn’t possible, store the tooth in cold milk, saline solution, or between your cheek and gums. Call us immediately — the sooner a knocked-out tooth is replanted, the better its chance of survival. Never store it in plain tap water.
Teeth that cannot be saved or replanted after trauma can be replaced with dental implants once adequate healing has occurred — typically several months after the acute injury. If the injury also caused bone loss at the extraction site, socket preservation or bone grafting may be needed before implant placement. Our surgeons plan for long-term dental rehabilitation from the earliest stages of trauma treatment, ensuring the reconstructed jaw is prepared to support implants when the time comes.
Facial trauma treatment is typically covered by medical insurance as a traumatic injury. If the injury occurred in a motor vehicle accident, auto insurance or personal injury coverage may also apply. We accept most major medical and dental insurance providers and Medicaid at all three of our DFW locations. Our team will help you navigate your coverage — do not let insurance uncertainty delay seeking care for a facial injury. Contact us and we will work through the details with you.
Expert facial trauma care — when you need it most.
Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Irving, Mesquite, and Ennis are trained and ready for the full spectrum of facial trauma — from the emergency room to long-term reconstruction. Contact DFWOMS immediately after a facial injury.