The National Violence Against Women Survey estimates that more than 5 million women are affected by domestic violence each year. The violence results in nearly $4.1 billion in health care costs. This is why Tokuyama Dental America, a dental manufacturer headquartered in Encinitas, California, has partnered with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation’s (AACDCF) Give Back a Smile program.
Give Back a Smile provides free dental care to adult women and men who have suffered dental injuries from domestic and sexual violence. Give Back a Smile volunteer dentists completely donate their time and services to restoring smiles.
Give Back a Smile’s services are life changing. One patient shared that her abuser beat her in the face with a shovel, leaving her with only three teeth left in her mouth. She was left in five feet of snow in the middle of nowhere after the incident. In order to hold her hostage, her abuser took away her dentures so she couldn’t leave the house. He knew if her physical appearance was damaged, she wouldn’t go anywhere or reach out to anyone. The victim reached out to Give Back a Smile and was able to get back her smile and freedom.
To date, Tokuyama Dental America has donated more than $86,000 in dental products to Give Back a Smile, including products from its esthetic composite, Estelite Omega, line that has enabled Give Back a Smile volunteer dentists to provide high-quality dental care to victims of violence.
Since Give Back a Smile’s 1999 inception, the program has restored more than 1,800 smiles and delivered more than $16 million dollars in treatment. By helping victims restore their smiles, Give Back a Smile is healing some of the most devastating effects of violence these victims endured and is supporting them on their road to recovery.
To learn more about Give Back a Smile and its impact, please watch the video:
https://www.facebook.com/TokuyamaDentalAmerica/videos/595006901285374/
If you would like more information on this topic, please call Anna Mai at (760) 942-7211 or email [email protected].
Editor's note: This article is an edited version of a press release provided by Tokuyama Dental America, January 15, 2020.
