"One of the patients I've treated was a male. He was abused by a woman he lived with. She actually threw an object that broke his teeth, because he would not give her money for drugs," said Mickey Bernstein, DDS, of Germantown Dental Group and president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).

 

The GBAS program, piloted by the AACD, is funded by donations and corporate sponsors. Since its inception in 1999, the organization has helped over 600 people nationwide and has approximately 300 more cases in process. Bernstein estimates nearly 20 people in the Mid-South have been assisted by the dozen GBAS dentists volunteering in the area. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in 2004, more than 40 percent of all crimes against people in the state of Tennessee alone were crimes of domestic violence, suggesting a huge population is not being reached. Bernstein said education is key.

 

"We send packets to shelters around the country, but people there are so busy trying to keep their people safe and their kids taken care of, that it becomes a low priority," he said. "The program doesn't always get in the hands of the people who need it the most."

 

To enroll, victims must make an appointment with a domestic abuse counselor, a social worker or therapist to advocate for them and send in the application. Abuse victims are trying to escape their situations and are often making a new life for themselves. Fixing broken or missing teeth is thousands of dollars in expense they cannot afford. However, long-term effects of ignoring tooth problems can be devastating.

 

"Untreated fractured teeth can lead to abscesses causing infection to travel all over the body. From the mouth, there are direct paths to the brain and heart through tissue planes," said Bernstein. "Research in recent years has linked periodontal disease to pregnancy issues or heart disease."

 

The Mayo Clinic reports links between oral health and not only premature births and heart disease, but also diabetes, HIV/AIDS and osteoporosis. Moreover, repairing a smile has broader implications.

 

Having a complete smile can help a person get a job and start a new life, such as in the case of Corinne, an abuse victim assisted by the GBAS program in California. Her last beating included facial and tooth injuries, a broken arm, two broken ribs, two broken legs and a broken nose. Corinne was taken into protective custody and divorced her husband, who later died. After healing and completing an education, she started a new job and a new life with a new husband.

 

"There were a lot of organizations that wanted to help you emotionally, but there were very few people out there who wanted to help get rid of the physical scars—the things that you look at in the mirror every day that remind you of your past life," she said. "Now I don't have to get up and relive that every single day."

 

Not only did her injuries cause emotional damage but also pain. Corinne was unable to chew properly and suffered from TMJ. Financially, she was powerless to do anything about it. Then GBAS stepped in.

 

 

Corinne volunteers for domestic abuse and rape crisis hotlines. Due to her new confidence, she also speaks to groups about the topic. As a victim and now advocate, her advice to doctors is to keep brochures and cards about domestic violence in their waiting rooms, so any patient receiving injuries at someone else's hands might discreetly get help. She cautions that if you suspect an injury due to abuse during an examination, let the patient dress and come into your office where you are sitting on her level to ask the question, "how did that injury come about?" Although it is rare for an abused woman to confess her experiences, gentleness and kindness can go a long way, she said.

 

Information on the program or how to donate can be found at givebackasmile.com or by calling 1-800-773-4227.