SOUTH BEND, INDIANA—Heraeus Kulzer, LLC, the worldwide leader in dental esthetics, has a long tradition of giving back to the community.
One of the benefits of this tradition is that it affords the company an opportunity to work and partner with some extremely talented and generous dental professionals. Kerri White, DDS, of Boca Raton, Florida, is the perfect example of such a professional.
Heraeus Kulzer’s Venus White brand is the official whitening fundraising partner of “Give Back a Smile” (GBAS). Created by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation (AACDCF), GBAS aims to restore the smiles of adult women and men who have had their smiles damaged or destroyed at the hands of a former intimate partner or spouse.
To generate funds for these restorative treatments, Heraeus Kulzer donates Venus White whitening products to participating dental practices, which then donate to GBAS 100 percent of the proceeds from the whitening treatments they provide their patients.
White Smiles, owned by Dr. White, is one of those practices. Not content to simply donate the proceeds from her practice’s whitening treatments, Dr. White has also hosted a fundraiser for GBAS.
"And I've even had people who aren't my patients come to my office and drop off checks to support the GBAS program, or come to just get their teeth whitened,” she said. All told, Dr. White, her staff and patients have raised over $20,000 for the cause.
And she is on a mission to do even more for victims of spousal and partner abuse. "I think it's such an important thing to be able to make a difference in their lives,” she said. “Once they have been away from their abuser, they qualify for the program. So they are trying to improve their lives. A lot of times they are unable to get jobs because they have so much damage to their front teeth. Fortunately, we can help them get on with their lives.”
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, it is estimated that 1.5 million people experience intimate partner violence each year. Since the 1999 launch of the GBAS program, AACD member dentists, dental laboratories, and other dental professionals have volunteered their time and expertise pro bono, to restore the damaged smiles of more than 1,300 survivors of intimate partner violence for a total dollar value of more than $13 million.
There are currently more than 250 applicants who are being treated throughout the United States and Canada. For more information about GBAS, visit www.givebackasmile.com.
Other charitable organizations supported by Heraeus Kulzer include the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Giving and Foundation, and the L.D. Pankey Dental Foundation.
To keep its customers up-to-date regarding product developments, special promotions, educational offerings and other value-added services, Heraeus is asking customers to share their email addresses. In return, customers can choose a free gift. Click here to sign up: http://mydental360.com/profile.
For more information on Heraeus or its products, call (800) 431-1785 or visit www.heraeusdentalusa.com.
About Heraeus Kulzer
Heraeus Kulzer GmbH is one of the world’s leading dental companies and is headquartered in Hanau, Germany. Its Dental Materials and Digital Services divisions supply dentists and dental technicians with an extensive product range, covering cosmetic dentistry, tooth preservation, prosthetics, periodontology and digital dentistry. With around 1,400 employees, Heraeus Kulzer’s 2012 sales revenues exceeded $450 million (exchange rate applied: $1.00 = €0.77).
Heraeus Kulzer has been part of the Japanese Mitsui Chemicals Group since July 2013. Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (MCI) is based in Tokyo, and has 13,000 employees in over 90 countries worldwide. Its innovative, practical chemical products are as much in demand in the automotive, electronics and packaging industries as they are in other fields such as environmental protection and healthcare.