Tingling, numbness, burning, and partial or full paralysis of specific facial muscles are all signs of facial nerve damage. When these symptoms don’t resolve quickly, surgery may be your best treatment option.

At Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates of Nevada in Summerlin and East Side Las Vegas, Dr. Mark Glyman and Dr. Eric Swanson are Harvard-trained surgeons. They’re well-known for their expertise in the highly specialized field of facial nerve repair and reconstruction.

Read what these skilled surgeons have to say about facial nerve repair.

Facial nerves

Twelve cranial nerves connect your brain to different areas of your head, neck, and trunk. The largest of these is the trigeminal nerve, which has three divisions. 

Each division of the trigeminal nerve is responsible for various movements and sensations such as pain in your face and jaw:

Ophthalmic

This division of the trigeminal nerve transmits sensory information to your brain from the upper part of your face, including your upper eyelids, forehead, and scalp.

Maxillary

This portion of the nerve provides sensory information to your brain regarding your cheeks, upper lip, and nasal cavity.

Mandibular

The trigeminal nerve’s mandibular division provides sensory information and motor (movement) function. It transmits signals regarding sensations from your ears, lower lip, and chin to your brain and controls movement of muscles in your jaw.

Damage to the facial nerves can occur due to trauma, specific cancer treatments, and medical conditions such as Bell’s palsy. While it’s rare, wisdom tooth extraction, corrective jaw surgery, and other dental procedures can also lead to facial nerve damage.

Symptoms of facial nerve damage

Symptoms related to facial nerve damage can vary depending on which division of the trigeminal nerve is affected and may include:

• Partial to full lack of sensation in the affected area

• Tingling

• Burning

• Muscular weakness

• Hypersensitivity in the affected area, causing pain with even the slightest touch

• Involuntary movement, twitching

Facial nerve damage can also affect how you sense texture on the front portion of your tongue, which can significantly impact the appeal of many foods you eat and your ability to speak clearly.

When to see the surgeon

Symptoms associated with nerve injuries are sometimes temporary and resolve within hours to a couple of days. However, they can linger and impair your ability to chew, speak, smile fully, or otherwise express yourself.

At Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates of Nevada, we encourage individuals to schedule an evaluation whenever they have concerns about possible nerve damage.

Otherwise, we certainly recommend you seek medical care if you have significant pain or numbness or symptoms that interfere with your ability to chew, speak, smile, or taste certain foods. It’s important to note that surgery designed to repair facial nerve damage is most effective when performed early.

Schedule a visit at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates of Nevada today for quality oral health care, including specialty treatment for injured facial nerves.