Patrisha McLean, left, Finding Our Voices founder/president, with Dr. Shanna Gagnon, president elect of the Maine Dental Association and a “Finding Our Smiles” provider, at the 2023 MDA convention in Bar Harbor. Patrisha McLean photo

Finding Our Voices has received $10,000 for its new statewide program, Finding Our Smiles, offering free, dignified dental care for Maine women and child victims of domestic abuse.

The grant from the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation will help the grassroots, survivor-powered nonprofit keep up with the momentum of Finding Our Smiles. Since the launch of this program six months ago, 18 dentists across Maine — including oral surgeons and orthodontists — have signed on to provide pro bono dental procedures.

Two dental labs, Port City out of Windham and NDX H&O out of Manchester, New Hampshire, are also participating. Nine Maine survivors so far have had their smiles restored or are well along the multi-stage process toward this outcome, according to a news release from Finding Our Voices president/founder Patrisha McLean.

“I have been blown away by the generosity and kindness of the Maine dental community in embracing Finding Our Smiles,” said McLean.

“Finding Our Smiles” provides cosmetic as well as critical care, and fixes dental problems stemming from neglect because of emotional abuse, also known as coercive control, as well as from physical violence.

Participating dental providers get domestic abuse survivors in quickly for treatment despite their jam-packed schedules, and provide the caliber of work, in the words of Dr. Sarah Bouchard, “that I would want if I was in the chair myself.”

This includes porcelain veneers, which last longer than less expensive alternatives. And also, when possible, rebuilding the woman’s existing teeth as an alternative to extractions and dentures.

In June, the Maine Dental Association provided Finding Our Voices with free, front and center exhibit space at its annual convention in Bar Harbor toward the nonprofit’s goal of dental partners in every region in Maine.

For more information, visit findingourvoices.net.

Check out upcoming area events!