Heraeus Kulzer, LLC, the worldwide leader in dental esthetics, has a long tradition of giving back to the community. One of the benefits of this tradition is that it affords the company an opportunity to work and partner with some extremely talented and generous dental professionals. Kerri White, DDS, of Boca Raton, Florida, is the perfect example of such a professional.
Heraeus Kulzer’s Venus White brand is the official whitening fundraising partner of “Give Back a Smile” (GBAS). Created by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation (AACDCF), GBAS aims to restore the smiles of adult women and men who have had their smiles damaged or destroyed at the hands of a former intimate partner or spouse. To generate funds for these restorative treatments, Heraeus Kulzer donates Venus White whitening products to participating dental practices, which then donate to GBAS 100 percent of the proceeds from the whitening treatments they provide their patients.
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White Smiles, owned by Dr. White, is one of those practices. Not content to simply donate the proceeds from her practice’s whitening treatments, Dr. White has also hosted a fundraiser for GBAS. "And I've even had people who aren't my patients come to my office and drop off checks to support the GBAS program, or come to just get their teeth whitened,” she said. All told, Dr. White, her staff, and patients have raised over $20,000 for the cause. And she is on a mission to do even more for victims of spousal and partner abuse. "I think it's such an important thing to be able to make a difference in their lives,” she said. “Once they have been away from their abuser, they qualify for the program. So they are trying to improve their lives. A lot of times they are unable to get jobs because they have so much damage to their front teeth. Fortunately, we can help them get on with their lives.”
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According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, it is estimated that 1.5 million people experience intimate partner violence each year. Since the 1999 launch of the GBAS program, AACD member dentists, dental laboratories, and other dental professionals have volunteered their time and expertise, pro bono, to restore the damaged smiles of more than 1,300 survivors of intimate partner violence for a total dollar value of more than $13 million. There are currently more than 250 applicants who are being treated throughout the United States and Canada.
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For more information about GBAS, visit www.givebackasmile.com.
For more information on Heraeus or its products, call (800) 431-1785 or visit www.heraeusdentalusa.com.
