Dra. Carina Brito

I have always believed that Dental Medicine goes far beyond technique. It is a profession made of knowledge, human relationships and the possibility of accompanying people at different moments in their lives.

When I entered the Dental Medicine degree at the Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, I was still trying to find my path within the profession. It did not take long to realise that Orthodontics was the area where I saw myself building a career. I was fascinated - and still am - by the possibility of intervening early in dental and jaw development, guiding growth to promote health, function and smile harmony.

But what truly won me over was the human dimension of the speciality. Orthodontics allows us to follow patients over several years, witness their growth and build a very special close relationship. I have the privilege of knowing entire families, following siblings and, later, welcoming the children of my first patients. It is this continuity, this almost family-like bond, that makes each treatment much more than a clinical result.

After completing my degree in 2005, I felt I wanted to keep challenging myself. The desire to learn more, develop new skills and learn about other ways of practising Dental Medicine led me to move to England. It was a deeply enriching experience, both professionally and academically. Working in an international context allowed me to come into contact with different clinical approaches, broaden my horizons and confirm that continuous training would always be one of the pillars of my journey.

When I returned to Portugal, I joined the founding team of Dental Medicine at the HPA Saúde Group. For 16 years I had the privilege of contributing to the growth and consolidation of this clinical area within the group, a decisive experience in my professional journey.

Beyond clinical practice, I discovered another dimension that has always fascinated me: leadership, organisation and management. The possibility of bringing people together around a common vision, creating solid structures, organising teams and continuously improving the patient experience became a very important part of my way of being in the profession.

Over the years, I realised that the best results come when there is time to listen, assess, plan and follow up each patient properly. I also realised that a multidisciplinary team makes a very significant difference in the quality of the treatment provided. When professionals from different areas work together, sharing knowledge and analysing each case in an integrated way, it is possible to offer more complete, personalised and predictable answers.

It was from that vision that Gambelas Smile Clinic was born.

I wanted to create a space where Dental Medicine was practised with scientific rigour, innovation and clinical excellence, but also with closeness, empathy and attention to every detail. A space where different areas of Dental Medicine worked together, allowing each patient to be seen as a whole and the most appropriate solution for their needs to be found.

I also wanted that difference to be felt from the very first moment.

The way we welcome our patients is, for me, an essential part of the clinical experience. I always imagined a warm, welcoming and calm reception, where each person truly felt welcome, heard and accompanied. Many people arrive at an appointment with doubts, anxiety or fears, and I believe a smile, an attentive word and a welcoming environment can make all the difference.

More than a clinic, I wanted to create a space where people felt comfortable and confident, from the very first contact until the end of the treatment.

Today, Gambelas Smile Clinic is a consolidated reality, supported by a multidisciplinary team of around 20 professionals who share this same vision. I am enormously proud of the path we have travelled and of the team we have built, united by a commitment to quality, continuous training and truly personalised care.

Throughout my entire journey, I never stopped investing in my training. Orthodontics is a constantly evolving area and I believe keeping up with that evolution is a responsibility towards our patients. That is why I kept deepening my knowledge through postgraduate courses and advanced training in Orthodontics, Facial Orthopaedics, Paediatric Dentistry, Interceptive Orthodontics and treatments with transparent aligners, including certifications in the Damon, Invisalign and Spark systems.

I remain passionate about Orthodontics in all its aspects. I enjoy following children, adolescents and adults, because each stage of life presents different challenges and unique opportunities to improve each person's health, function and confidence.

Above all, I like the relationships that are built. I like getting to know my patients' stories, following their families over the years and the trust they place in me and in our team.

It is that trust that continues to be my greatest motivation. I look to the future with the desire to continue learning, innovating and growing Gambelas Smile Clinic in a sustainable way, without losing the essence that was at its origin: excellent, multidisciplinary, close and deeply human Dental Medicine.