How does it work?

Perth-based women who have been victims of domestic violence and are unable to receive dental treatment because of financial, physical or emotional limitations, are initially nominated to the Australian Dental Health Foundation (WA) branch. 

From here, the state convener screens the cases and progresses them to the clinical team for assessment by a general dentist volunteer for triage and treatment planning. The volunteer either undertakes the treatment themselves, or refers the patient to other clinicians and specialists as required. Volunteers contribute their time, skills, knowledge, consumables and, if available, their auxiliary staff. 

All treating practitioners have been educated through our CPD events to be sensitive to this cohort of patients. We have been trained in effective techniques to manage these vulnerable women, in terms of behavioural communication, treatment times, and facilitative understanding in order to provide the highest level of care.The feedback from the clinical team has been overwhelmingly positive. Not only have volunteers valued the opportunity to help victims of domestic violence, they have also benefited from being able to share clinical skills, resources, equipment and staff to “get the job done” for the patients.

What's included?

As a multi-disciplinary team of both specialists and general dentists, we are uniquely positioned to offer an unparalleled standard of care, from general examinations and conservative treatment, through to specialist care such as endodontic, prosthodontics, oral medicine and even orthodontic care. 

This comprises case presentations, treatment planning and collaborating to ensure the best outcomes for each woman.

Empowered Women

Patient
Patient

“I appreciate everything your team has done for me! It has made my life a lot happier with loads of smiles. I can’t even start to tell you how it has also improved my confidence. So, a huge thank you to all involved “

Patient

Patient

"All of the dentists I saw were very kind, welcoming, compassionate, caring and very friendly. Overall I had an extremely positive experience and I want to thank you all for supporting me, it’s made a huge difference to my life and its one less thing I have to worry about."

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, there are no upfront or ongoing costs for women who have been referred to the Healing Smiles program.

Unfortunately not. To access our dental treatments and services you must firstly visit one of the above organisations and receive a referral to one of our participating dental organisations.

Our partner organisations listed above offer a warm and welcoming environment for women suffering from domestic violence, and they can assist you in the next steps forward to receive the necessary treatment.

As a non-for-profit, we’re always looking for donations and volunteers to help us reach more women across WA. Please visit the Volunteer or Donate sections above to learn more, and if you still have questions please reach out to contactadmin@womenindentistry.net​ or zartorre@gmail.com for more.