Maxillofacial trauma refers to any injury to the face or jaw caused by physical force, foreign objects, or burns. For treating all types of facial trauma:
WIRING: One of these options involves wiring the jaws together for certain fractures of the upper and/or lower jaw. SCREWS AND PLATES: Fractures of the jaw are best treated and stabilized by the surgical placement of small "plates and screws" at the involved site. This technique of treatment can often allow for healing and obviates the necessity of having the jaws wired together. This technique is called "rigid fixation" of a fracture. The relatively recent development and use of "rigid fixation" has profoundly improved the recovery period for many patients by allowing them to return to normal function more quickly.