Dental help provided for domestic violence survivors in Geraldton

A local dentist and charity volunteer for domestic abuse survivors says one in two patients feel ashamed of their teeth, urging the Mid West to not to leave a tooth check-up too late. A National Survey of Adult Oral Health found that on average, West Australians aged between 35 and 54 had 10 decayed, missing or filled teeth in 2017-18. Durlacher Dental Care dentist Xin Jie Tan said she saw patients from the Mid West, particularly those in remote areas where access to oral health care was limited, with long-overdue check-ups. “Sometimes it means removing all the teeth and having dentures made,” she said. “Recently we saw a patient who hadn’t visited a dentist in 20 years, who unfortunately needed just that. Although it can be a good result, at the end of the day function just isn’t the same as with your natural teeth,” she said. WA dental charity Healing Smiles aims to restore a domestic violence victim’s dignity and confidence by providing dental care to those who may not be able to afford it after an abusive relationship. “A lot of these women have had dental trauma which has contributed to their overall trauma and deeply damaged mental health as a result,” she said. Poor dental hygiene is proven to impact mental health and can have significant consequences for quality of life, according to a National Library of Medicine article. Ms Tan said poor oral health risked tooth decay and gum disease that impaired daily functions such as going to work or socialising and contributed to anxiety and depression. “It can lead to breakdown of teeth and even tooth loss — becoming an aesthetic concern which can severely damage self-confidence, can unfortunately affect job prospects and relationships with others, and so it can become a much bigger issue than not being able to eat certain foods,” she said. “Patients come to us hoping to be able to smile in their kids’ wedding photos, or go to the next job interview without shame. Being able to provide them with treatment not only alleviates pain and eliminates disease but can have such a positive impact on their mental health.” “It’s incredible to see the transformation in patients after dental treatment. It really can be a life-changing experience for many who were previously not even able to smile.” Domestic abuse hotline: 1800 737 732 https://healingsmiles.com.au/client-referral/