General and preventive dentistry in Villavicencio

General dentistry is the way in to everything else. It is the appointment where your teeth, gums and the rest of your mouth are examined, where we work out what is going on, and where you get a plain explanation of your options.

It covers the treatments most people need over the course of a year: cleaning, fillings, sealants, fluoride application, a simple extraction when a tooth can no longer be saved, and any X-rays needed to see what is not visible to the naked eye.

It is for you if it has been more than a year since you last saw a dentist, if cold or sweet food makes you wince, if your gums bleed when you brush, or if you simply want to keep what you already have in good order.

Signs it is worth booking a visit

There is not always pain. Many problems start quietly and show up first as something small:

• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss.
• Sensitivity to cold, heat or sweet things.
• Dark marks, holes or rough edges on a tooth.
• Visible tartar, especially behind the lower front teeth.
• Bad breath that brushing does not clear.
• A filling that feels different, has come loose or has broken.
• Food that always gets trapped in the same spot.

Any one of these is reason enough for an assessment visit. The earlier it is looked at, the simpler the treatment usually is.

What general dentistry covers

• Assessment visit. A full check of teeth, gums, bite and soft tissues. This is where your treatment plan comes from, and the order in which things are best done.
• Prophylaxis, or dental cleaning. Removal of plaque and surface staining, then polishing so plaque builds up more slowly.
• Scaling. Removal of hardened tartar from the tooth and from just below the gum line, using ultrasonic and hand instruments.
• Composite fillings. A tooth-coloured material used to repair decay or a chipped edge.
• Sealants. A thin coating over the deep grooves of the back teeth so food and plaque cannot collect there. Used mainly in children and teenagers, and in some adults at higher risk.
• Fluoride application. As a gel or varnish, to strengthen enamel where there is a high risk of decay or ongoing sensitivity.
• Simple extraction. Removal of a tooth that can no longer be saved, under local anaesthetic. More complex cases, such as impacted wisdom teeth, are referred to oral surgery.
• X-rays and diagnostic imaging. Periapical, bitewing or panoramic, depending on what needs to be seen: decay between teeth, the state of the bone, roots, or teeth that have not yet come through.

How treatment runs, visit by visit

First visit. The assessment is carried out, any necessary X-rays are taken, and the findings are explained to you. You leave with a plan and a clear idea of what should be dealt with first and what can wait.

Treatment visits. We usually start with the cleaning and with whatever is causing pain or risk. Fillings are done area by area so that no single session drags on. Where the procedure calls for it, local anaesthetic is used and we work with minimally invasive techniques, keeping as much healthy tooth as possible. Pain management is discussed with you before anything begins.

Review. At the end we agree how often you should come back. For most people that means regular check-ups with a cleaning, adjusted according to how your mouth responds.

Aftercare at home

• Brush two or three times a day with fluoride toothpaste, including along the gum line.
• Floss once a day, without forcing it against the gum.
• After a filling you may feel sensitivity to cold for a few days; it normally settles.
• After an extraction: bite on the gauze for as long as you are told, avoid rinsing forcefully, do not use a straw for the first few hours, choose soft cold foods, and do not smoke.
• If bleeding does not stop, if pain increases instead of easing, or if swelling appears in your face, get in touch with us.

If any of this sounds familiar, the next step is not choosing a treatment: it is booking an assessment visit at Higienista Oral so you know for certain what you need. Message us on 0312 4869987, call 0312 4869987, or request your appointment through the form on this site.