Answer
The risk of contamination is considerable in intraoral lacerations, but the risk of resulting infection is low due to excellent vascularity. [23] However, with highly contaminated wounds, the administration of prophylactic antibiotics should be considered, depending on the depth and degree of contamination. Patients should be instructed to return if signs of infection develop (eg, fever, swelling, spreading erythema). Remind patients that intraoral wounds may appear white for a few days. A wound check may be arranged within 48 hours.
Wounds to the vermilion border may result in deep scars and tissue redundancy that may require later revision by a plastic surgeon. [24]
On rare occurence, traumatic lacerations of the oral mucosa may result in subsequent arteriovenous malformations. [25]
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Equipment for the anesthesia, irrigation, and closure of a lip laceration.
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Lip laceration involving the lower vermilion border.
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Identification of intraoral skin laceration.
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Lip laceration involving the upper vermilion border.
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Deep intraoral lip laceration that needs repair.
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Technique for extraoral infraorbital nerve block.
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Intraoral approach for infraorbital nerve block.
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Placement of the first suture through the vermilion border.
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Assessing for mobile or broken teeth.
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Further inspection of the anesthetized wound reveals a through-and-through laceration.
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Extraoral approach to close the deep layer.
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Wound approximation after 2 deep sutures are placed.
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First suture aligning the vermilion border.
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Placement of intraoral skin suture with buried knot.
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Closure of an intraoral skin laceration.
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Closure of an intraoral laceration.
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Intraoral approach to close the deep layer.
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Wound approximation after placement of deep muscular sutures.
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Placement of the first suture through the vermilion border.
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Placement of the first suture through the vermilion border.
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Complete closure of the facial skin.
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Complete closure of the facial skin.
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Illustration of the upper and lower vermilion border.
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Areas of regional nerve blocks for the lips.
