Jaw and Facial Bone Fractures

Jaw fractures often accompany facial injuries. Fractures in the upper jaw, lower jaw, palate, cheekbones, and eye sockets can lead to difficulties in breathing, vision, speaking, and swallowing, as well as trauma-related facial deformities.

TREATMENT

The treatment principles for jaw and facial fractures are the same as those for fractures in other parts of the body, such as the arms or legs. The broken bone fragments are repositioned to their original place and immobilized until they fuse together. Depending on the situation, either an open method (surgical approach) or a closed method (conservative treatment) can be applied to realign and stabilize the fractured pieces.

JAW JOINT (TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT – TMJ)

The jaw joint is a small joint located where the skull meets the lower jaw, just in front of the ear. It allows the lower jaw to move and function properly. The most common disorders related to the TMJ can be described as ear and head pain, limited mouth opening, pain during jaw movements, and clicking or popping sounds.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF JOINT PROBLEMS?

One of the most common causes of jaw joint disorders is parafunction, which refers to involuntary, non-physiological movements such as teeth clenching and teeth grinding. If not addressed early, these parafunctional habits can lead to pathologies, including meniscus degeneration. Besides parafunction, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative joint diseases can also cause various painful or painless symptoms in the jaw joint.

POSSIBLE TREATMENT METHODS

The treatment of the jaw joint ranges from conservative dental and medication therapy to complex surgical procedures. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include short-term use of painkillers and muscle relaxants for pain management, the use of a bite plate or splint therapy, and stress-relief approaches.
In general, if non-surgical treatments fail or if diagnostic evaluations reveal irreversible damage to the joint that affects the patient’s quality of life, surgical intervention may be required.

BONE RECONSTRUCTIONS

Sinus Lifting

In the upper jaw, there are anatomical cavities located just above the teeth, known as the maxillary sinuses. The maxillary sinuses continue to expand throughout life. The increase in their volume leads to a decrease in bone mass in the upper jaw. These bone losses, although physiologically natural, may reach levels that prevent dental implant placement.
In such cases, if implant therapy is planned, a special surgical procedure called Sinus Lifting is performed to reduce the size of the sinuses and increase bone volume. This operation can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the patient’s preference. During the procedure, bone particles are placed between the jawbone and the sinus membrane, and new bone formation is expected over the following six months.
For this purpose, bone can be harvested from the patient’s own body (such as from the hip or lower jaw), or bone from bone banks and inorganic materials can be used. Once bone formation is complete, standard implant placement can proceed.

Alveolar Bone Augmentation (Expansion)

One of the most common long-term problems after tooth extraction is the resorption of the jawbone. When missing teeth are to be replaced with dental implants, the height and volume of the bone become even more critical. Successful implant placement requires sufficient bone height and thickness.
Bone volume loss caused by early tooth loss or severe gum disease can be corrected through bone reconstruction procedures. These repairs can be performed using bone taken from the patient’s own body or with inorganic materials. If the patient’s own bone is used, the most suitable donor site is usually the hip bone. Bone taken from the skull can also be used for this purpose.