A severe facial fracture often requires oral surgery, especially if it affects the ability to eat, speak, breathe, or see. A highly trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon must be consulted to restore vital functions. Because these complex injuries cannot be easily corrected, experience in surgical treatment and facial reconstruction is essential.

The four main types of facial fractures that are treated by oral surgeons fall into four categories.

Fractures of the jaw
The upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible) may be fractured as a result of auto accidents, falls, and sports activities. Many jaw fractures are accompanied by loosened, damaged, or lost teeth.

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon can perform oral surgery to restore the jaw’s alignment and stability. Because oral surgeons specialize in treating injured tooth sites and replacing missing teeth, they are well suited to address jaw-related facial injuries.

Cheekbone Fractures
A fractured cheekbone can result from violence, falling, playing sports, or being in a car accident. Often called zygomatic bone injuries, these facial fractures are overlooked, as they usually don’t result in functional impairments.

However, if not recognized and treated by an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon, this type of facial injury can result in undesirable cosmetic and functional outcomes. A serious cheekbone injury may require oral surgery to return the bone to its former shape and position.

Nose fractures
Fractures of the nose are common because it is a prominent feature of the face. Blunt-force trauma is the most common cause. Any blow to the face, whether from sports, an accident, a fall, or violence, can cause a broken nose.

Fractures of the nose do not always require oral surgery. However, if breathing is obstructed or if the nose is visibly off-center, oral and maxillofacial surgery may be required.

Orbital fractures
A punch to the face often results in a fractured eye socket, but auto accidents and sports activities are also common causes.

Almost all orbital fractures occur in the bottom portion of the eye socket, where the bone is thinner. As with nasal injuries, oral surgery isn’t always needed for eye injuries. However, if the eyeball is displaced from its normal position, or if double vision develops, the patient will likely require surgery.

The oral surgery team at our office is experienced, trained, and certified in treating all types of facial fractures and injuries. In addition, we offer a full range of oral and maxillofacial services, including dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, and treatment for sleep apnea and TMJ disorders.

To find out more, schedule an appointment with our oral surgery practice today.

There is a common question that people have about oral surgery, which is “Is it a dental or medical procedure?” The mere fact that a procedure takes place at a dental or oral surgeon’s office does not mean it isn’t medical. Most states and the federal government recognize that oral surgeons provide more than just what some may consider dental care. If the procedure performed is medical rather than just dental, you can bill your medical insurance. 

Dental insurance usually covers routine cleanings at 100%, but only pays a small fraction of the cost of other treatments. Also, dental insurance usually has a low annual maximum benefit, so patients with complex dental needs can quickly exhaust their dental benefits. Patients with medical and dental issues can benefit from claiming medical insurance for procedures.

When is an oral surgery procedure medical?
When an oral surgery procedure is used to diagnose or treat a medical condition, it is considered medical. An overbite, for example, is a dental condition and not a medical condition. “Abscessed tooth” refers to both a dental and medical condition. “Diabetes” refers to a medical condition. Using the following information, you will better understand how you may be able to use your medical insurance to pay for some of your oral surgery or dental procedures.

Wisdom Teeth
Your health insurance plan will likely cover the cost of impacted wisdom tooth removal since the procedure is often medically necessary. There is a possibility that third molars can cause pain, infection, and cysts to form.

Your oral surgeon’s classification of wisdom teeth can affect your claim payment.

• Soft-Tissue Impaction-Less Likely to be Covered by Medical
• Partial Bony Impaction-More Likely to be Covered by Medical
• Complete Bony Impaction-Most likely to be covered by medical

Jaw Surgery
Depending on your insurance plan, you might be covered for orthognathic jaw surgery when it is medically necessary to treat an illness, injury, condition, disease, or its symptoms.

You can have operations on your jaw for a variety of reasons, and some of them fit into the coverage criteria exactly, some do not, and others fall somewhere in between.

Removal of Tori
A benign bone growth in the mouth, also known as a “torus” (plural), is a type of benign bone growth in the mouth. Tori removal (torus palatinus or torus mandibularis) is unlikely to be covered by health insurance because the removal of the excess jaw bone is rarely medically necessary.

Oral surgeons can bill your dental insurance plan, or you may pay out-of-pocket. Tori does not cause pain or cause other medical complications if left untreated.

Dental implants
Your dental implants may be covered by your health insurance if they are medically necessary for evaluating and treating a disease, condition, illness, or injury according to the applicable standard of care.

As an example, implants could be used to replace teeth lost during a covered accident or illness.

You shouldn’t have to navigate the complicated world of insurance alone. You can obtain specific benefit information about your dental and medical insurance plans from our oral surgery office. Please call us today to schedule an appointment.