Fractured Facial Bones
Treatment in Dallas–Fort Worth
Facial fractures affect how you look, how you feel, and how your face functions every day. DFWOMS’s board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons specialize in treating cheekbone, eye socket, nose, and other facial bone fractures — restoring structure, function, and confidence at our Irving, Mesquite, and Ennis locations.
When a facial injury goes beyond the surface
Facial bone fractures occur when one or more of the bones that make up the face — the cheekbones, eye sockets, nasal bones, upper jaw (maxilla), or lower jaw (mandible) — are broken due to trauma. Common causes include motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, falls, and physical altercations.
Unlike a broken arm or leg, facial fractures directly affect your appearance, your vision, your ability to breathe through your nose, and your ability to chew and speak. Prompt, specialized treatment is essential — delayed repair can allow bones to begin healing in the wrong position, leading to permanent deformity or functional problems that are far more difficult to correct later. At DFWOMS, our oral and maxillofacial surgeons are specifically trained to manage the full spectrum of facial trauma with precision and care.
Facial fractures treated at DFWOMS
Our surgeons treat the full range of facial bone fractures, from isolated injuries to complex multi-bone trauma. Each fracture type presents unique functional and aesthetic challenges that our team is trained to address.
The cheekbone (zygoma) gives the face its width and contour. A fractured cheekbone can cause visible flattening of the cheek, pain, swelling, difficulty opening the mouth, and interference with chewing. Our surgeons use advanced imaging and precise surgical techniques to reposition and stabilize the fracture — restoring facial symmetry and full function. Because the zygoma is closely connected to the eye socket, careful evaluation of orbital integrity is always included.
The thin bones of the eye socket protect the eye and maintain its correct position. Orbital fractures — particularly blowout fractures of the orbital floor — can cause double vision, sunken eye appearance, restricted eye movement, and numbness around the cheek and lower eyelid. Immediate evaluation is critical. Our surgeons reconstruct the orbital walls using titanium mesh or biocompatible implants, restoring the socket’s structure and safeguarding your vision.
Nasal fractures are among the most common facial injuries. Beyond the visible change in the nose’s shape, they can cause breathing difficulties, chronic congestion, and septal deviation. Early treatment allows nasal bones to be realigned with minimal intervention. Left untreated, bones may heal in an incorrect position — requiring more complex corrective surgery later. Our surgeons address both the structural and functional aspects of nasal fractures to restore a natural, balanced appearance and clear airway.
When to seek immediate care for facial trauma
Not all facial injuries look severe at first. Swelling, bruising, and adrenaline can mask the true extent of the damage. Seek evaluation at DFWOMS promptly if you experience any of the following after a facial impact:
Facial fractures should ideally be evaluated and treated within one to two weeks of injury, before the bones begin to consolidate in their displaced position. After that window, correction becomes significantly more complex and invasive. If you have suffered facial trauma, do not wait — contact DFWOMS for prompt evaluation.
What to expect, step by step
Our surgeon performs a thorough clinical examination of the injury, assessing for fracture displacement, functional deficits, and involvement of adjacent structures such as the eyes, sinuses, or teeth. A CT scan is obtained to precisely map the fracture pattern, bone displacement, and the integrity of surrounding anatomy — giving us the detail we need to plan the most effective repair.
Based on imaging and clinical findings, our surgeons determine whether non-surgical management or surgical repair is required. Minimally displaced fractures may be managed conservatively with activity restrictions and follow-up. Displaced fractures, those affecting function or causing significant deformity, are repaired surgically — typically within the first two weeks after injury for best results.
Surgery is performed under general anesthesia, most often through carefully planned incisions that minimize visible scarring. Displaced bone segments are precisely repositioned and secured with titanium plates and screws or, for orbital fractures, titanium mesh or biocompatible implants. Our surgeons work to restore the exact anatomical contours of the face — both for appearance and for function.
Depending on the complexity of the fracture, surgery may be performed at our office or at Baylor University Medical Center, where our surgeons hold full surgical privileges. Complex multi-bone fractures, fractures with significant orbital involvement, or patients with significant medical histories are managed in the hospital setting for maximum safety and monitoring.
Recovery varies based on the nature and complexity of the fracture. Swelling and bruising are expected and typically resolve over 2–4 weeks. Activity restrictions, dietary modifications, and follow-up imaging are part of the post-operative protocol. Our team monitors your progress closely throughout recovery to ensure healing is progressing as expected and to address any concerns promptly.
Specialized facial trauma care in Dallas–Fort Worth
Common questions about facial bone fractures
You cannot definitively determine a facial bone fracture without imaging — swelling can mask deformity, and some fractures cause minimal pain initially. Signs that suggest a fracture include visible asymmetry, numbness or tingling in the face, double vision, difficulty chewing or opening the mouth, a palpable step along a bone, or significant swelling and bruising following trauma. If you have experienced a significant facial impact, an evaluation with CT imaging is the only reliable way to assess what has happened.
No. Minimally displaced fractures that do not affect function or cause significant deformity can often be managed non-surgically with activity restrictions, dietary modifications, and close follow-up to ensure proper healing. Surgical repair is indicated when fractures are displaced, when they affect vision, breathing, chewing, or speech, or when they produce visible deformity that the patient wishes to correct. Our surgeons will give you an honest assessment at consultation.
Ideally, facial fractures should be evaluated immediately and repaired within one to two weeks of injury — before the bones begin to consolidate in their displaced position. In practice, significant swelling in the first days after injury may delay surgery slightly, but the process should begin promptly. After two to three weeks, fractures begin to fibrose and harden, making repair substantially more complex. Do not wait to be evaluated.
Our surgeons plan incisions carefully to minimize visible scarring — many facial fractures can be repaired through incisions hidden inside the mouth, along the lower eyelid, or within natural skin folds. Where external incisions are necessary, they are placed as inconspicuously as possible and closed with meticulous technique. Over time, well-placed scars typically fade significantly and become difficult to detect.
Swelling and bruising peak in the first few days and typically resolve over 2–4 weeks. Most patients return to light activity within 1–2 weeks. Strenuous activity, contact sports, and dietary restrictions vary based on the fracture type and surgical approach — our team will provide specific guidelines tailored to your case. Follow-up imaging is scheduled to confirm healing. Full recovery and final results are typically assessed at 6–12 weeks post-operatively.
Facial fracture treatment is generally covered by medical insurance as a traumatic injury, and may also be covered under dental insurance depending on the nature of the injury. We accept most major insurance plans and Medicaid at all three of our DFW locations. If the injury was the result of an accident, auto insurance or personal injury coverage may also apply. Our team will help you navigate your coverage — contact us and we will work through the details with you.
Restore your face — restore your confidence.
Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Irving, Mesquite, and Ennis are trained to treat the full spectrum of facial fractures — with the precision, compassion, and urgency your situation demands. Contact us today.