Bony Injuries
In this section, we will cover:
- What is a bony injury?
- What are the types?
- Will I need treatment?
What is a bony injury?
The alveolar bone is the part of the mandible (lower jaw) and maxilla (upper jaw) which holds the teeth firmly in place.
Any injury to these bony structures is known as a "bony injury" and usually results in the bone fracturing in two or more pieces.
What are the types?
The types of injury depends on which part of the jawbone has been damaged:
- alveolar bone fracture
Find out more: baby teeth or adult teeth - mandibular fracture
- maxillary fracture
General signs of a bony fracture include:
- broken fragments of bone are mobile
- you won't be able to bite your teeth together as normal
Sometimes, the fracture can involve the roots of the teeth causing a root fracture. You can find out more about root fractures by following these links: baby teeth or adult teeth.
Will I need treatment?
For an alveolar bone fracture, the broken part of bone will need to be repositioned to correct the way the teeth bite together. A splint (flexible metal wire) is then placed on the teeth to hold the bone in place. In most cases, this can be done under local anaesthetic by your dentist.
For a fracture of the jawbone (maxilla or mandible), surgery is usually needed. A cut is made in the gum and small plates and screws are used to hold the broken parts of bone together. Dissolvable stitches are then placed to put the gum back together and allow the area to heal. This is done under general anaesthetic with a team of oral and maxillofacial surgeons (not your usual dentist).
More information about mandibular and maxillary fractures can be found in the "facial trauma" section. This type of trauma would need to be managed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, not your usual dentist.