TEETH NUMBNESS

LAST MONTH ON 19TH I MET WITH AN ACCIDENT AND FRACTURED MY RIGHT MAXILLA. ALSO GOT SOME SWELLING ON MY RIGHT EYE WHICH HAS NOW REDUCED TO A GREAT LEVEL. DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT THE ENTIRE SET OF UPPER RIGHT TEETH WENT NUMB AND THEY STILL ARE. WHAT COULD BE THE REASON AND HOW MUCH TIME IT WILL TAKE TO RECOVER IF AT ALL????... ALSO ARE THERE ANY OTHER EFFECTS IN THE LONG RUN IF MY TEETH DONT BECOME NORMAL AGAIN.

[ggreg]

A nerve in the face undoubtedly was affected, and since the swelling has gone down, I think you need to do a followup visit with your doc and let him make a diagnosis.  As long as your facial muscles are not affected, just having numb teeth is okay as long as you keep up with regular dental checkups and cleanings, just in case your doc says it's permanent due to an injury to a nerve.  Anytime you go thru a major accident, and you walk away from the ER, you must do a followup with your own doc.  The ER just gets you up and moving.  If you do not have a regular doctor, you can go to your county health department and be seen by a physician there, if you like.  You obviously need some aftercare after fracturing your facial bones and goofing up your eye real bad.  Your family doc or a county doc might want to refer you to a neurologist if they decide you do have a nerve problem that could be improved by a specialist.