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www.FredericksburgParent.NET 11 Sponsored Material Ask the Expert a sk t h e e x p e rt Q: What is the typical recovery time for someone who has just had all 4 of their wisdom teeth removed? Dr. Niloy: It depends on the diffi culty of the surgery or the tooth posi oning, but recovery typically takes 5 to 7 days. That doesn't mean you are bed-bound for that long. The fi rst 2 to 3 days are diffi cult, and pa ents o en experience a lot of swelling and pain, soreness, and some bleeding, but a er those fi rst few days, most pa ents can go about their daily ac vi es without any major issues. The fi rst 2 to 3 days are diffi cult, as swelling typically reaches its peak by day 3, but begins to subside on day 4, with each day being a li le be er than the day before. Q: Any recommendations for what to eat during recovery? Dr. Niloy: Ice cream is a popular go-to food for wisdom teeth recov- ery. It's cold and can help with pain relief and it's easy to swallow. We mostly recommend simple liquids like warm but not hot soup and broth and a so diet in the very beginning. A so diet includes foods such as mashed potatoes, apple sauce, pudding, etc. It is advised to stay away from foods containing grains and seeds. Those small food par cles can get lodged in the extrac on sites, which can lead to discomfort and prolong the body's natural healing process. It's important to keep the extrac on sites clean. Post-surgical care instruc- ons are given to pa ents verbally and in wri ng, at the me of discharge. Locally based prac ce started by a long me orthodon st who saw the need for families to have more convenient op ons for dental special es. Eight offi ces throughout the Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia areas. Off ering pediatric den stry, orthodon cs and oral surgery. Family-friendly payment plans for orthodon cs, with low down payments and interest-free fi nancing. Pediatric den sts make early childhood dental visits easy and fun. Having orthodon cs under the same roof ensures access to important early interven ons. Specialists regularly confer and off er second opinions to ensure the best treat- ment plan for every pa ent.- Care team is carefully selected for exper se in their specialty and a drive to constantly improve and provide the best pa ent care. Q: What are the signs of infection or other complications some- one should look for after having their wisdom teeth removed? Dr. Niloy: In the fi rst day or so a er surgery, we are concerned if we see signifi cant bleeding, or a lot of swelling where it is diffi cult for the pa ent to breathe, or if they are having chills. Pain control is the biggest issue in beginning of the recovery period. A er a week, we are looking for signs of infec on. Those would be fever, chills, signifi cant restric on of a pa ent's ability to open his or her mouth, discharge, pus, a bad taste in the mouth. Those are typically signs of an infec on. Any me there's a sign of infec on, we want our pa ents to come in right away to be seen. Q: Are implants more practical than a bridge when replacing missing teeth? Dr. Niloy: Implants and bridges are two diff erent restora ve op- ons for replacing missing teeth. Implants are a surgical procedure where a dental implant goes into your bone. This is not a diffi cult surgery. The crown sits on top of the implant. The bridge, on the other hand, relies on having two teeth on either side of it. The surgeon fi les down the two adjacent teeth to put in a fake tooth. Implants are the preferred standard prac ce today, because they do not require any modifi ca on of the adjacent teeth. Q: Why is it important to replace missing teeth? Dr. Niloy: As you lose teeth, chewing and speech becomes more diffi cult. Missing teeth also aff ect the dynamics in the mouth that can lead to nega ve impacts. In the mouth, our teeth are un- der immense pressure all the me, so if there is any gap in the teeth, the other teeth will shi , causing misalignment. Teeth also play an important role in the stability of your jawbone. At the site of missing teeth, the jawbone o en will wear away over me. Pu ng in an implant gives us much greater stability, preven ng the shrinkage of the jaw that can result from missing teeth. Q: What are some ways to prepare for oral sur- gery, especially for teens who may be coming in for wisdom teeth extraction? Dr. Niloy: Always start with a consulta on. That allows me to introduce myself to the pa ent and their parents. Most of our pa ents are scared or nervous about wisdom-tooth extrac on. This is o en their fi rst surgery, their fi rst experience with anesthesia, an IV. In our consulta on at Let's Smile, we will go over ways they can calm themselves, off er meds they can take before surgery to make them more relaxed. We also talk about any other ways we can make our pa ents more comfortable. At Let's Smile we really work to build rela onships with our pa ents, and we fi nd that this really helps address the nerves that can surround some of these procedures. To learn more, visit letssmile.com.