AWARD-winning local women’s charity, Trevi, is delighted to work with Plymouth-based Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise (PDSE) to deliver life-changing dental treatment to those women affected by domestic violence and abuse.

In the UK, one in four women will experience domestic abuse, while one in 20 women experience extensive and repeated abuse and rape as children and adults.

In Devon and Cornwall, there are 14,700 women victims of domestic abuse each year.

Women affected by domestic violence often experience immediate dental trauma like damage to teeth or loss of teeth and ongoing health problems related to lack of dental treatment.

This can further lower their self-esteem even when they escape the violence because they no longer feel able to smile.

Many women at Trevi’s Jasmine Residential Recovery Centre and those accessing their Sunflower Women’s Centre may also have been homeless or sleeping rough for a time.

In this instance, poor general dental health means they often suffer from severe dental problems such as pain and the lack of any teeth, causing difficulty with eating and speech.

Dental damage serves as a visible reminder of the abuse that survivors have experienced and can significantly affect their confidence.

By restoring the smiles and oral health of women affected by domestic violence, can have a significant impact on their lives.