Facial Trauma
Desert Valley Oral Surgery provides facial trauma care for injuries to the face, mouth and jaw at our Gilbert and Queen Creek offices. Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons repair cuts to the face and inside the mouth, treat broken jaws and facial bones, and care for teeth that have been knocked out or loosened.
To schedule a visit, call our Gilbert office at (480) 539-6420.
Who Treats Facial Injuries at Our Practice
Dr. Donovan Hansen, DDS, and Dr. Eric Grant, DMD, are the oral and maxillofacial surgeons at Desert Valley Oral Surgery. Their training covers emergency care, the first treatment after an injury, and the reconstruction that can follow in the months after.
Dr. Hansen is on staff at local hospitals and provides emergency room coverage for facial injuries. Our surgeons treat:
- Cuts to the face (facial lacerations)
- Cuts inside the mouth (intraoral lacerations)
- Teeth that have been knocked out (avulsed teeth)
- Broken cheek, nose and eye socket bones
- Broken upper and lower jaws
An injury to the face can change how a person eats, speaks and feels about their appearance. We plan treatment with both function and appearance in mind.
Causes and Types of Facial Injuries
Facial injuries often come from car accidents, falls, sports, fights and accidents at work. They range from a loosened tooth to serious injuries to the skin and bones of the face. We group them into three types:
- Soft tissue injuries, which affect the skin and gums
- Bone injuries, which are fractures
- Injuries to special areas, such as the eyes, the facial nerves or the salivary glands
Cuts and Soft Tissue Injuries
We close cuts to the face and mouth with stitches and place them to keep the scar as small as we can. Before closing a cut, the surgeon checks what lies underneath it, including the facial nerves, the salivary glands and the ducts that carry saliva into the mouth, and treats any damage found.
Broken Jaws and Facial Bones
A broken bone in the face needs to be held still to heal, the same as a broken bone anywhere else. An arm can go in a cast. The face cannot, so surgeons use other methods.
Some jaw fractures are treated by wiring the upper and lower jaws together while the bone heals. Other fractures are held in place with small plates and screws placed during surgery. This is called rigid fixation. It can remove the need to wire the jaws together, and it lets many patients return to normal eating and speaking sooner.
The surgeon chooses the method based on where the break is, how severe it is, and the patient’s age and general health. We use as few incisions as possible and, where we can, place them where the scar will be hidden.
Knocked-Out and Broken Teeth
Oral surgeons treat breaks in the bone that holds the teeth and reposition teeth that have been knocked out or pushed out of place. We hold these teeth in position with a splint that is wired or bonded to the teeth next to them.
If a tooth is knocked out, keep it in milk, do not wipe the root, and call a dentist or oral surgeon right away. The tissue on the root helps the tooth reattach to the jaw, and a tooth put back sooner has a better chance of surviving.
Some tooth injuries also need care from other dentists. An endodontist may treat the root with a root canal, and your general dentist may repair or rebuild a broken tooth. When a tooth cannot be saved, a dental implant can replace it.
Facial Trauma Care at a Glance
| Surgeons | Dr. Donovan Hansen, DDS, and Dr. Eric Grant, DMD |
|---|---|
| Injuries treated | Facial and mouth cuts, knocked-out teeth, broken jaws, broken cheek, nose and eye socket bones |
| Treatments | Stitches, splinting of teeth, jaw wiring, plates and screws (rigid fixation) |
| Hospital care | Dr. Hansen is on staff at local hospitals, with emergency room coverage for facial injuries |
| Gilbert office | 2915 E Baseline Rd #106, Gilbert, AZ 85234. (480) 539-6420 |
| Queen Creek office | 21321 E Ocotillo Rd #117, Queen Creek, AZ 85142. (480) 655-5400 |
Questions About Facial Trauma Care
Can an oral surgeon fix a broken jaw?
Yes. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat fractures of the upper and lower jaw. Depending on the break, the surgeon wires the jaws together or holds the bone with small plates and screws.
Will my jaw have to be wired shut?
Not always. Some fractures are treated by wiring the jaws together. Others are held with plates and screws, which can remove the need for wiring. The surgeon decides after examining the injury.
What should I do if my tooth gets knocked out?
Keep the tooth in milk, do not wipe the root, and call a dentist or oral surgeon right away. A tooth put back in its socket sooner has a better chance of surviving.
Do you treat facial injuries at the hospital?
Yes. Dr. Hansen is on staff at local hospitals and provides emergency room coverage for facial injuries.
Where is your Gilbert office?
Our Gilbert office is at 2915 E Baseline Rd #106, near Banner Gateway Medical Center. Parking is directly in front of the building, and Suite 106 is marked. Call (480) 539-6420. See both office locations.
To schedule a visit after an injury to the face, mouth or jaw, call our Gilbert office at (480) 539-6420 or request an appointment online.
Page updated November 2, 2026.
Welcome to Desert Valley Oral Surgery
At Desert Valley Oral Surgery, we know how to help you. Our board-certified surgeons and expert staff can provide the care you need to relieve the discomfort you feel.
