Intra- and extra-oral soft tissue injuries are commonly seen in the paediatric patient and often present first to the dental practitioner. Soft tissue wounds may be limited to superficial structures, or extend deeper to involve facial bones, sensory and motor nerves of the face, salivary glands or ducts, and dentoalveolar structures. A clear understanding of wound healing is vital to a rational approach to the practice of repairing soft tissue trauma.