Coinciding with last month’s White Ribbon Day (held on Friday 25 November), the Australian Dental Association Foundation (ADAF) launched the Rebuilding Smiles pilot project to help women and children who are victims of domestic violence rebuild their lives. Under Rebuilding Smiles, ADAF volunteers will provide much needed dental care to women and children who have suffered domestic violence.

The ADAF has already begun working with its volunteers to implement the pilot for Rebuilding Smiles in Victoria and South Australia. ADAF chair David Owen said, “There is increasing awareness about the scourge of domestic violence in Australian society. The injuries that domestic violence survivors experience are wide ranging; and typically include injury to their oral health. In addition to the immediate dental trauma that survivors experience, there could be ongoing oral health problems related to lack of dental treatment.

“Rebuilding Smiles provides an opportunity for volunteer dental professionals to provide essential dental treatment to women and children who are survivors of domestic violence and make a positive difference.” Following a review of the pilot in VIC and SA, the ADAF hopes to expand Rebuilding Smiles into other states, and is calling for individuals and organisations to be Rebuilding Smiles Partners by providing a financial contribution to help this effort. “The ADAF is seeking funding to assist volunteer dental professionals so that Rebuilding Smiles can grow and provide more help to more domestic violence survivors,” Owen said. “If you would like more information on how you can be a Rebuilding Smiles Partner by donating to this project, please get in touch.”

This article was originally sourced from Bite Magazine.