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The face is a part of the body which provides uniqueness and personality to an individual. The  role of the teeth in esthetics can also not be undermined. Unfortunately, these two areas are also the most vulnerable to injuries of various kinds. Recent advances in technology have also brought with them an increased risk as well as severity of injury. The most common cause is roadside accidents due to high-speed vehicular traffic. Other causes include falls, fights, sports related injuries, industrial accidents and natural disasters.

Dental injuries may vary from a slight chipping off of the enamel to a complete loss of the tooth. Treatment options include build up with composites, root canal treatment, artificial crowns, tooth splinting and complete tooth replacement. However, what is natural is natural and should be preserved. In case a tooth gets knocked off, the same tooth can be splinted back and may continue to give good function for many years to come. Results vary according to how early it has been replaced and on the severity of injury. While at the site of the accident, the tooth may be lightly washed with fresh water and gently pushed back into the tooth socket. If this is not possible, the tooth may be placed under the patients tongue or in a small container containing saline, milk or even water. The patient should be rushed to the specialist for examination and splinting of the tooth. This may save the patient from complex and expensive tooth replacement procedures like removable partial dentures, fixed bridges and dental implants.

 

Maxillofacial injuries, which include fractures of the jaws, are more complex often requiring Multi-specialty intervention. Treatment options like Mini-plate fixation ensure better alignment of the fractures and faster healing. This prevents facial disfigurement and abstinence from work for long periods of time. In most cases, it prevents prolonged closure of the mouth by intermaxillary fixation, which is quite uncomfortable and would have lead to nutritional deficiencies, problems with speech and compromised oral hygiene. Stainless steel has given way to titanium as a Mini-plate material of choice due to its being more biocompatible and having higher strength at lesser weight and thickness. Recent trend is towards the use of micro-plates and resorbable plates in management of fractures of the facial bones. 

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