Dental charity work
aids women and kids
Honolulu dentist Wilfred Miyasaki will provide free consultation and dental treatment to restore smiles of domestic violence survivors.
Miyasaki is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, sponsor of the national "Give Back a Smile" program, which helps victims of domestic violence.
He also is participating with Parents and Children Together in the "Toothprints" dental identification program, a procedure that records tooth characteristics for identification when children are lost or abducted.
"Like fingerprints, dental imprints are unique to every person," said Ruthann Quitiquit, PACT president and chief executive officer.
Positive identification can be made from DNA in saliva residue on the imprint wafer, and the saliva is an effective scent for tracking dogs to follow, Miyasaki said.
The program runs through June. It costs $24 for the first child and $12 for the second or additional children from the same family, plus cost of materials.
Miyasaki and his staff, at 1139 Bethel St., volunteer their time and donate proceeds to PACT.
Miyasaki also will assist PACT in a teeth-whitening program through June 30 as part of the "Smiles for Life" campaign of the Crown Council, an organization of dentists in the United States.
They offer teeth-whitening services at reduced prices and donate proceeds to children's charities.
Locally, half of the fees will go to PACT and the other half to Garth Brooks' "Teammates for Kids" Foundation.
For more information about any of the programs, call PACT at 847-3285 or Miyasaki at 533-0000.