Facial trauma encompasses any injury to the face, jaw, or surrounding structures — from soft tissue lacerations and avulsed teeth to complex fractures of the cheekbone, eye socket, nose, jaw, or forehead. These injuries result from falls, motor vehicle collisions, sports impacts, workplace accidents, and assaults, and they often require the coordinated expertise of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to restore both function and appearance. Because the face contains delicate structures responsible for breathing, eating, speaking, vision, and the way a patient presents to the world, the surgeon’s training and decision-making in the first days after an injury directly determine whether the patient will heal with full function and a natural appearance — or with lasting deficits that are far harder to correct later.
Dr. David Salehani is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with the rare distinction of holding both a DDS and an MD — and a general surgery internship at Stony Brook University Hospital that included specific training in major trauma management, in addition to his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery with honors from State University of New York at Stony Brook and his Doctor of Medicine from Stony Brook School of Medicine. Dr. Salehani serves as faculty at UCLA Medical Center, has held a seat on the peer review board of the Los Angeles Dental Society for over seven years, and is past president of the Beverly Hills Academy of Dentistry — a depth of training that distinguishes him for the most complex facial reconstruction cases referred to him by physicians and dentists across the Los Angeles area.
Types of Facial Trauma We Treat
- Facial Fractures: Repair of fractures involving the cheekbone (zygoma), eye socket (orbital floor and rim), nose, forehead, and upper or lower jaw.
- Jaw Fractures: Precise realignment and stabilization of fractured upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible) bones using internal fixation hardware.
- Soft Tissue Lacerations: Layered closure of facial and intra-oral lacerations with attention to scar minimization and the underlying muscle and nerve structures.
- Avulsed and Damaged Teeth: Repositioning and stabilization of knocked-out or displaced teeth, with longer-term dental implant planning when teeth cannot be saved.
- Dentoalveolar Trauma: Treatment of injuries involving the teeth and supporting bone, including fractures of the alveolar ridge.
How Facial Trauma Surgery Works
Treatment begins with a thorough clinical examination and 3D CT imaging to map the full extent of the injury — many facial fractures involve multiple bones that require coordinated repair. Dr. Salehani designs a treatment plan addressing each component of the injury in the correct sequence, often combining open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with titanium plates and screws, soft-tissue reconstruction, and dental restoration. Most facial trauma surgery is performed under general anesthesia in our accredited West Hollywood operating room, with hardware placed permanently and incisions positioned within the mouth or along natural facial contours whenever possible to minimize visible scarring. For complex cases, Dr. Salehani’s bone grafting and reconstructive expertise allows for staged repairs that restore both function and aesthetics over time.
Why Specialist Training Matters in Facial Trauma
Facial trauma cases are unforgiving — fractures that are improperly reduced, soft tissue closures that overlook deep structures, and timing decisions that delay critical repairs all produce lasting consequences that are difficult or impossible to correct later. The combination of dental, surgical, and trauma training in oral and maxillofacial surgery — along with formal trauma rotation experience during a general surgery internship — provides the depth of judgment required to make the right decision in cases where errors compound. For West Hollywood and Los Angeles patients, having access to a fellowship-level OMS surgeon outside of an emergency department setting offers continuity of care that hospital-based trauma teams cannot match.
Frequently Asked Questions About Facial Trauma Surgery
When should I see an oral and maxillofacial surgeon after a facial injury?
Patients should be evaluated by a maxillofacial surgeon within 24 to 72 hours of a significant facial injury — earlier intervention generally produces better functional and aesthetic outcomes, and some fractures heal in displaced positions if treatment is delayed.
Will I have visible scars after facial trauma surgery?
Whenever possible, incisions are made inside the mouth or along natural facial creases to avoid visible scars — when external incisions are unavoidable, Dr. Salehani uses techniques designed to produce the thinnest, most camouflaged scar achievable.
Will my facial fractures need plates and screws?
Most displaced facial fractures require titanium plates and screws to hold the bone in correct position during healing — these are typically permanent and are not visible or palpable once swelling resolves.
How long does recovery take after facial trauma surgery?
Initial swelling and bruising resolve over two to three weeks, while bone healing typically takes six to eight weeks — patients are usually able to return to non-strenuous work within one to two weeks, with restrictions on contact sports and heavy lifting until bone healing is complete.
Will my insurance cover facial trauma surgery?
Facial trauma is considered medically necessary and is typically covered by medical insurance, including auto insurance for motor vehicle injuries — the practice’s billing team can verify benefits and coordinate authorization before treatment begins.
Can damaged teeth be saved or replaced?
Many displaced or fractured teeth can be repositioned and stabilized within hours of injury — when teeth cannot be saved, Dr. Salehani plans dental implant replacement either at the time of trauma surgery or after initial healing.
Schedule a Facial Trauma Consultation in West Hollywood
If you or a family member have experienced a facial injury and need surgical evaluation or follow-up care, contact Sunset Oral and Facial Surgery at (310) 275-3635 to schedule a consultation with Dr. David Salehani at our West Hollywood office, serving patients throughout Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and the surrounding communities.
