It has been demonstrated that women’s gums have certain peculiarities that make them more susceptible to changes, compared to those of men.

Women’s gums require special attention and especially at certain stages of development in their life. The reason why they are more affected than men is due to hormonal changes. Hormonal changes make gum diseases more vulnerable because of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone). The increase in hormones in certain periods of their life cause more blood flow to the gums and make them more sensitive and susceptible to any external agent that can irritate them. When hormone levels are high, the gums are more sensitive to plaque and bacteria, making it prone to inflammation and bleeding. If gum inflammation (gingivitis) is not treated, it can progress in periodontitis (inflammation and loss of the tissues which surround the tooth).

The gums of women during PUBERTY:

During puberty, the increase in hormone levels causes higher blood circulation in the gums. As a result, they tend to swell and may have a greater tendency to bleed.

As a young woman grows, the tendency of bleeding decreases. However, if proper prevention is not performed, the gum can be permanently damaged.

The best way to prevent this situation is with daily care of the teeth and a regular visit to your dentist to perform periodontal preventive measures and early diagnosis in case of more serious problems.

The gums of women during PREGNANCY:

The gum also undergoes many changes during pregnancy. Frequently, pregnant women suffer more gingivitis from the second or third month. This disease is characterized by inflammation, bleeding and a red color of the gum caused by the accumulation of plaque. There is a risk that the bone and other tissues surrounding the teeth can be permanently damaged if no treatment is performed.

Patients in periodontal treatment should take care of maintenance during pregnancy because often the condition of the gum worsens during the pregnancy, therefore now more than ever it is very important to visit the dentist. The indicated time to do gum treatments is during the second trimester.

Research studies show that periodontal disease in pregnant women can be a risk factor for the birth of immature children. Maintaining good periodontal health is the mother’s best interest to have a healthy child.

If you are taking oral contraceptives, you may be susceptible to the same symptoms that affect pregnant women.

The gums of women during MENOPAUSE:

The most important effects that women can suffer in this stage of life is the sensation of dryness and irritation.

If you use estrogen supplement patches, they will barely affect your mouth. However, progesterone may increase gum irritability and the tendency to swelling, bleeding and redness.

Sometimes, after menopause, a certain degree of osteoporosis appears. Osteoporosis has recently been linked to a greater tendency to suffer from periodontal disease. In these cases, gum health care should be a priority objective in the affected women.

If you want to know more about gum diseases and how they are treated, click here. 

Invisible orthodontics does not involve braces, like in other conventional orthodontic treatments. It is based on a series of custom made transparent aligners (guards) which are made individually for each patient. They are changed during the course of the treatment until the teeth are correctly aligned.

With this system, before we start the treatment, we can see the final result of what the teeth will look like through a virtual 3D Clincheck, which implies a lot of precise information we can see about the treatment before starting.

WHY HAS INVISALIGN BECOME SO POPULAR? WHAT ARE IT’S ADVANTAGES?

Invisible orthodontics (Invisalign) has become our orthodontic treatment of choice for most of our patients, with Invisalign being 90% of the Orthodontics we do at the A2 Dental Clinic. This is due to its numerous advantages:

• ESTHETICS: it is based on using transparent aligners and they are very esthetic, as you can barely see them. 
• BETTER ORAL HYGIENE: you can take them out them at any time, to brush your teeth and floss, to eat, or in case of an important event.
• COMFORT: as the treatment does not require metal braces or wires, it does not cause discomfort or lacerations in soft tissues (lips or cheeks).
• FUNCTION: Invisible orthodontics has evolved a lot in recent years. Dental movements with this technique are softer but constant, which makes it more effective in certain movements compared to conventional braces, where the forces exerted are more punctual and of greater pressure.

At the beginning of the treatment, each patient receives their own kit, which includes all the care and maintenance instructions, as well as a case to store the aligners.

Frequently asked questions of our patients at A2 Dental:

HOW LONG DOES THE TREATMENT LAST?

The duration of treatment will depend fundamentally on the initial state of each patient’s teeth. This means that it depends on your “malocclusion” (type of bite) and the amount of teeth to be moved or rotated.

If it is a case of mild malocclusion, the treatment can last approximately 6 months.

If it is a complex case, it can last up to 24 months or more.

Each patient has a different bite, so you cannot give generic estimates regarding time. Ideally, if a patient is interested in Invisalign, they can have a first consultation with the Orthodontist, who will indicate the estimated time of treatment and resolve any questions. This first consultation with the Invisalign Specialist has no cost, nor any commitment at A2 Dental.

DO I HAVE TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE WITH WHAT I EAT?

In general, as opposed to with normal braces, you can eat as usual and there are no specific restrictions. This is because the aligners need to be removed when eating and therefore there is no reason to restrict food or drink.

CAN I SMOKE WITH THE ALIGNERS?

In the first place, it is important to highlight the harmful consequences of tobacco both for the oral tissues and in the body in general. In the case of smoking during the treatment, smoking whilst wearing the aligners is not recommended, since they can stain and obtain a bad taste.

DOES INVISALIGN HURT?

It is a painless treatment. Invisalign usually has a much shorter period of adaptation than with conventional brackets. Most people may notice some discomfort during the first days of treatment or when the aligners are switched out. This sensation should gradually disappear with the use of the aligner. The advantage of Invisalign is that, unlike conventional braces, there is no rubbing of the braces against the lip and therefore does not create traumatic ulcers.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE NOT WORN THE ALIGNERS ALL THE TIME I SHOULD HAVE?

It is very important to wear the aligners the 22 hours indicated, throughout the whole treatment. If for any reason, it has not been possible and you have worn them less time, you would be to speak with the specialist and will probably need to extend the use of some of the aligners to make sure that the correct movements are going to be carried out during the treatment.

HOW DO I CLEAN AND TAKE CARE OF MY INVISALIGN?

Both the Invisalign and teeth must be cleaned after each meal. The aligners are to be cleaned with a brush, water and soap. Additionally, cleaning crystals will be provided in the kit.

If you want to know more about Invisalign, click here.

If you want to know more about our specialist in Orthodontics, Dr. Morá, see his profile here.

If you would like to have an appointment for a free consultation with our orthodontist, contact here.

Our Doctors, Dr. Rico and Dr. Nilsson recently attended the European Symposium of Treatments of Periimplant Diseases. The congress took place in Mallorca and was organised by three different international institutions involved specifically in Periodontics and Implantology.

What are periimplant diseases?

Periimplant diseases are the conditions that Dental Implants, and more concretely, the tissues that surround the implants (gums and bone) suffer due to an infection. 

In the symposium, all the updated techniques of Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of these peri-implant conditions were treated.

A fundamental aspect of dental implants is their MAINTENANCE.

What kind of maintenance do your dental implants require?

The ideal maintenance of your dental implants is what the specialist advises in each particular case, but it is primarily based on proper daily hygiene, as well as periodic reviews with your specialist. This way, you can PREVENT and AVOID any complications regarding your dental implants.

If you are interested in learning more about dental implants, do not hesitate to contact us. Dr. Rico is a Specialist in Oral Surgery and Implantology and will be happy to assist you.

In the following links you can learn more about dental implants at A2 Dental:

• Oral Surgery Treatment
• Dr. Alberto Rico

Ethics, respect for our patients, no economical pressure, always the same professionals, no partial and incomplete prices, state of the art technology, the best for your mouth and not necessarily the expensive options, no overtreatments, always knowing the cost of the whole treatment before hand, your treatment plan explained to you by a sanitary professional and not a salesman in a white gown, safe sterilization protocols to avoid contamination. We understand what our patients need, because in A2 Dental we are not investors who open Dental Clinics, we are dedicated dentists.