Mouth cut

Description

Mouth laceration or mouth cut. An injury of the skin or mouth mucous membrane caused by the trauma. Accompanying injuries may be injuries of the teeth, tongue, inner side of the cheeks, gums, soft and hard palate, neck and tonsils. If the injury has affected lips and goes across the connection between the brighter skin part and red tissue (vermilion) stitching is used to make even the edges of vermilion.

Symptoms

Skin damage, swelling, bleeding.

Overview

Anamnesis is being taken and physical examination is being done and tendon and nerve functions are being tested. X-rays image or CT scan should be done sometimes to determine possible complications.

Tests

CT scan and X-rays image.

Specialists

ETN, Platic Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Therapy

Many cuts inside mouth do not require stitching. Larger cuts inside mouth and skin cuts require stitching. Mouth lacerations should be repaired within 12 hours in order to prevent infection. While waiting for treatment, the sore can be cleaned with water and covered with gauze or a clean cloth. Pressure on the sore can be applied to stop bleeding. If the bleeding is profuse, you should immediately contact a doctor. A patient might need to receive tetanus vaccine if in last 5 years it has not been received in case of dirty sore and for clean sore if the last one was received more than 10 years ago.