Australasian Dentist Issue 92

CATEGORY AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST 133 PracticePurchase • CommercialProperty • GoodwillLoans • OverdraftFacilities • HomeLoans • CarLoans • Equipment&FitoutFinance • SMSFLending credabl.com.au 1300 CREDABL (1300 27 33 22) The issuer and credit provider of these products and services is Credabl Pty Ltd (ACN 615 968 100) Australian Credit Licence No. (ACL) 499547. “ “ Getting more from my finance partner, means my patients get more from me. Professional and personal finance solutions, tailored for you and turned around fast. When you partner with Credabl, you can expect all that and more. With a team of experienced finance specialists, we understand the dental sector so you can look forward to finance solutions that help you get on with business and looking after your patients. You always get more with Credabl. care, or whose finances are restricted.There are people whose partners undermine their abilitytokeepappointments,or theiranxiety has shattered their self-care. I’ve seen cases where women have been prohibited from buying or using a toothbrush,” says Jacinta. “Healing Smiles aims to help our volunteer teams with trauma-informed care skills. Patients can come with serious fear, anxiety, embarrassment and shame. We’re here to work slowly, gently and build trust.” The rough years of Covid have certainly disturbed this sleeping giant, even in West Australia, where lockdowns and restrictions were minimised in 2020/21. Jacinta says Healing Smiles was overwhelmed last year. “Demand increased dramatically with Covid,” she says. “Every time there’s a lockdown we seem to get an influx. Last week, for example, we received 12 referrals.”There is an urgent call for more dentists and dental nurses, more clinical space, materials and allied providers to get onboard and join in by volunteering. Research at Healing Smiles reveals an alarming level of need. One in six women in Australia will experience physical or sexual abuse before the age of 16. During the 2018-2019 Financial Year, the WA Police Force logged 65,609 family violence-related tasks, with an average of 180 family violence-related tasks daily. Many women are unable to afford the high costs of dental treatment after suffering abuse, and over time this impacts self-esteem, health, work and opportunities for the future. “I have three daughters of my own, and I know we live in a world where these things happen, the figures are staggering,” says Jacinta. “Any of us can get in to trouble. For me this is the thing: if we can be there for these people, knowing how to give trauma-informed care, taking that extra step, and actually with the power to help these people get their smiles back – I mean, their genuine smiles – that is a reward that is deep in many dentist’s heart and soul.” The project has obviously had a tremendous impact on Dr Vu, who speaks with genuine warmth for the rewards she has gained from her involvement. “This is the best way I can see to use my time and talent to help our community. I’m very passionate about it: about helping women indentistry access apathway tohelp others; to pass on our strength and goodwill and encouragement, to give warmth and empathy where it’s really needed, and let people in trouble know there is a future and there is support to get there.” Healing Smiles has given back to Dr Vu in other ways too. She has begun exploring her creative expression as a way to make beauty of the things she has seen and the hope she is nurturing. And has offered a poem the work has inspired. “This is more than ‘just’ providing dental treatment, it’s about consciously offering a space where hurt people can feel safe, supported and listened to. We have heard from women who’ve been through the program about how their lives have transformed, and we certainly see this physically when they come back to us, smiling again. “I hope people who read this will really feel that we care, understand how sincerely we want to help and know that we believe in them. We want to be a part of their journey.” u COLUMNISTS