Can your cheek bone break

The following day the position of your cheekbone may be checked with X-rays before you are allowed home. Even if the fracture has been held in the right place with plates and screws it still takes around six weeks for your cheekbone to heal completely. During this time you need to be careful to avoid an injury to this side of your face since it may well push the cheekbone back out of position again.

You should also avoid blowing your nose on the side of the fracture for a month following surgery because otherwise this can produce swelling in and around the eye. Before you leave hospital an appointment will be arranged to take out any stitches and review you in the outpatient department.

It is important to keep any stitches or dressings dry until they are removed. If you have any incisions inside your mouth it may be difficult to clean your teeth around stitches because it is sore.

It is best to keep the area free from food debris by gentling rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash or warm salt water dissolve a flat teaspoon of kitchen salt in a cup of warm water commencing on the day after surgery. Depending on the nature of your work it may be necessary to take a fortnight or so off work and avoid strenuous exercise for this time. It is important to remember that you will not be able to drive or operate machinery for 48 hours after your general anaesthetic.

This nerve may have been bruised at the time of the fracture and as a result you might already feel some tingling or numbness over your face. This tingling may also be caused or made worse by surgery. Additional signs of a dislocated jaw include the following:.

Your doctor will diagnose a broken jaw or dislocation by asking you your history, doing a physical exam, and taking relevant X-rays. A simple dislocation could be treated by an oral surgeon or dentist. A serious fracture that requires surgery would need a specialist, such as a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, a head and neck surgeon, or an oral surgeon. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you need help finding a specialist.

If you injure your jaw, it will most likely be treated as an emergency. While waiting for medical care, support your lower jaw to help stabilize it and keep your airway open. A doctor must manipulate a dislocated jaw back into the correct position. Sometimes your doctor can do this manually. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to set the TMJ back into the normal position. Treatment for a jaw fracture or break might also require surgery, depending on the extent of the injury.

Clean breaks may heal on their own while your jaw is immobilized. Your doctor may treat your dislocation and minor fracture simply by wrapping a bandage around your head and under your chin to keep you from opening your jaw wide.

Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen Advil, Motrin and naproxen Aleve can dull the pain and reduce swelling. Severe breaks might require wiring to promote healing.

Wires and elastic bands keep your jaw closed and your bite in place. Keep a pair of scissors or wire cutters in your home during your recovery. The tools will allow you to open the wires if you experience vomiting or choking.

If the wires need to be cut, notify your doctor so they can replace the wires as soon as possible. Recovery from a jaw fracture or dislocation requires patience. Your doctor will prescribe painkillers and antibiotics to prevent infection. You will need to follow a soft diet as you recover from a dislocated or broken jaw. Avoid foods that are crunchy or chewy if you have a dislocation or minor fracture that will heal on its own. Items such as fresh meats, raw produce, or crunchy snack foods can cause strain and pain to your healing jaw.

A soft diet that includes the following can be easy to chew:. Will any further procedures be performed whilst I am under the anaesthesia Some fractures of the cheekbone produce a break in the floor of the eye socket. What can I expect following the surgery There is likely to be soreness and tenderness over the site. Will I require any time off work Depending upon the nature of your work, it may be necessary to take a couple of weeks off work and to avoid strenuous exercise for this period.

What are the possible complications of the surgery? The nerve that runs through the cheekbone that supplies sensation to the cheek, side of your nose and upper lip may have been bruised at the time of the fracture. As a result you may already experience numbness or tingling over your face.

This tingling can sometimes be exacerbated by surgery. Most people report the symptoms of numbness improve on their own, although it may take several months.

Any incisions made to the face will produce a scar, but these should fade with time and after a few months are usually difficult to see. Bleeding from the incisions is unlikely to be a problem, but should the area bleed this can be stopped by applying pressure over the site for at least ten minutes with a swab.

Although rare, bleeding in and around the eye socket can cause a problem with eyesight immediately following surgery. You will be closely monitored in the first few hours after surgery to ensure that there is no bleeding.

If you experience worsening of vision or pain in and around the eye, contact your surgeon immediately. This tends to settle on its own but may require further surgery. If there are any plates or screws that have been inserted in your cheekbone to stabilise it, these are not normally removed as they tend not to cause any problems unless they become infected.

Contact us today by calling ! Symptoms of Nose Fractures If you notice any of these symptoms following an accident, you may have a broken nose and need to seek medical care. Pain, tenderness, and swelling Nosebleed Nose appears unsymmetrical or deformed Clear nasal discharge If you see this symptom, seek emergency care.

Symptoms of Cheekbone Fractures Cheekbone fractures often require reconstructive surgery.