American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Member Dentists to Volunteer Services

MADISON, Wis. (September 2011) ?Eligible adults are invited to apply for Give Back a Smile (GBAS), a program which restores damaged smiles for survivors of domestic violence. Dentists nationwide are helping heal the effects through participation in this program offered by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation (AACDCF). October marks National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Over five million individuals are affected by domestic abuse each year resulting in $4.1 billion in direct and mental health costs. GBAS volunteer dentists provide on average $8,000 worth of smile-zone restoration treatment at no charge to qualified adult domestic violence survivors. These survivors apply for services through GBAS, and must make an appointment with a counselor, domestic violence advocate, social worker or therapist to complete the advocate section of the GBAS application.

?Sadly, domestic violence is still prevalent and, in many places, on the rise in this time of economic turbulence,? said Dr. Ken Banks, AACDCF Board of Trustees Chair. ?GBAS has restored the smiles of more than 1,000 domestic violence survivors to date, and we?re looking to help even more. If you know of someone who has suffered injuries to their smile at the hands of a former intimate partner or spouse, please contact GBAS.?

GBAS reviews the initial application and the volunteer dentist determines final eligibility. GBAS will connect initially qualified applicants with a local GBAS volunteer, who then provides treatment at no charge. All applicants must fulfill certain GBAS criteria including having been out of an abusive relationship for at least one year and providing a small application fee or proof of community service.

If you or someone you know could be helped by GBAS, please visit the GBAS website at www.givebackasmile.com or call toll-free 800.773.4227 for more information.

About Give Back a Smile

Give Back a Smile was developed to address a need in the communities of AACD members. Volunteer dentists and laboratory technicians agree to restore broken and damaged teeth in the smile-zone of survivors of intimate partner violence. AACD dentists help erase memories of abuse by restoring smiles at no cost to survivors thereby restoring their lives. To date, AACD members have donated more than $10 million in services to restore smiles to help more than 1,000 individuals.