| Give Back a Smile
It's an act of giving something back to society. The American Academy
of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) is giving survivors of domestic violence
back their smiles.
The AACD has established the Give Back A Smile Program, which is,
in conjunction with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
(NCADV), enables domestic violence survivors to receive complimentary
cosmetic dental treatment. AACD members donate their time and expertise
to restore survivor's smiles, and in turn, help rebuild their self-esteem.
"Self-esteem is priceless. Being able to help someone manage
a crisis, it's just a great feeling. It's truly rewarding to be
part of that," says Dr. Richard Weigand. Weigand is the Inland
Northwest's participating AACD dentist for the program. "There
really is a need out there."
More than five million people are battered every year in the United
States; over 25 percent of them require medical treatment. Moreover,
seventy-five percent of women who are in an abusive relationship
receive battering to the face and head area, and are not financially
able to correct injuries suffered. "Thanks to Give Back A Smile,
domestic violence survivors will now be able to look in the mirror
and not see the scars, the remnants of the violence that was once
part of their lives," says Rita Smith, Executive Director of
NCADV.
AACD President Dr. Art Chal echoes those sentiments. "We have
the ability affect the way people feel about themselves. If that
can help someone turn their life around, then that's really what
we're all about."
Gracemarie Stephens is living proof of ho cosmetic dentistry can
help change a person's life. Married at the young age of 16, Stephens
incurred her first domestic violence beating when she was 18-years-old.
The beating continued for over the next 20 years. Seven years ago,
she courageously left that painful world behind and began to slowly
rebuild her life, self-esteem and relationships with her family.
In 1997 while working as a manger and House Mother at a homeless
shelter and adjoining Bible school in Arizona, she met a member
of the AACD. It became one more major step in her movement towards
self-affirmation.
Over a period of 18 months, the damage done to Stephen's teeth during
domestic violence attacks was corrected for free of charge. This
dental work has not only had lasting effect on her physical appearance,
but it has helped her gain confidence to turn her life around, get
a job, a place to live, lose over 100 pounds and learn to smile
again. "I thought I would be dead from violence. I never thought
I would be here," says Stephens. "Now I smile, I'm not
afraid to go out in public. I have my self-esteem back, and that's
something that I haven't had in so long that I had forgotten what
self-esteem was."
Spokane-Coeur d' Alene Living Magazine Article
Articles About
Dr. Weigand
In
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Give Yourself a Brighter
Outlook on Life
Spokane-Coeur d' Alene Living Magazine Article
Give Back a Smile
Spokane-Coeur d' Alene Living Magazine Article
Revolution in Dentistry
Lets You Open Wide
Spokane Club Smoke Signals
In The Vanguard
Spokane-Coeur d' Alene Living Magazine Article
Menu Please!
Teeth Whitening Options
Northwest Woman Magazine – Jun/Jul 2006
Sports Safety
Northwest Woman Magazine – Oct/Nov 2006
The No-Pain, No-Grind,
No-Shot, Perfect Smile
Northwest Woman Magazine – February/March 2007
Sedation Dentistry
Works Like a Dream!
Northwest Woman Magazine – Oct/Nov 2005
Something to Smile About
Northwest Woman Magazine – Jun/Jul 2005
Another Dental
Visit
Northwest Woman Magazine – Aug/Sept 2005
Dress Up Your Smile
for the Holidays
Northwest Woman Magazine – Dec/Jan 2005
Dr. Weigand
Videos
Q6: LOCAL NEWS TODAY
DR. WEIGAND AT WORK
FOX 28: FIRST AT TEN HEALTH
- DESENSITISING TEETH
TESTIMONIALS
THE WATERLASE DESENSITIZES
TEETH - COSMETIC COMPUTER IMAGRY
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