Dr. Doman Gives Survivors Confidence and a Smile!

“As a dentist helping survivors of trafficking, getting them out of physical pain so that they can deal with the other things they have to deal with is important, but it's also about helping them in the process of the mental pain that they're experiencing. Dentistry gives them a better chance at confidence and being able to smile to the world—it’s underrated.

In a world that's seeing less goodness, to see the goodness at Dahlia’s Hope has been impactful for everybody involved. It's touched my heart deeply.

For the past couple of years, I’ve been providing free dentistry for patients from Dahlia’s Hope, and it’s really picked up this year. There are all kinds of needs from crowns and fillings to implants and braces. My goal when we meet someone from Dahlia’s Hope is to find out what they need and help them rebuild their sense of self-worth.

We've done some fairly significant training with my staff. I have a huge array of different people in my office from different backgrounds, but everyone wanted to help and they’ve all been so tender. It’s still a struggle for some survivors just to feel comfortable. It takes some time to gain and build trust for them to allow me to do dental work.

I think one of my favorite moments was a patient who had come in and was having a hard time even making eye contact and talking with any of us. It was hard for her even to come to the appointment. And when she realized that I was going to straighten her teeth for free, she just broke down in tears. She couldn't imagine that there were people in the world who wanted to be kind and good and nice just for the sake of it.

It's been a great blessing for me personally to find ways to give back to the community—to go into the world and to use the learning and blessings I've been given for others. I'm anxious to continue forward and do more.

I want to love people and treat people better. I get joy out of that, and they get joy out of that. I really don’t want recognition for it, but if I can empower and inspire others to do the same, then that’s great. So, now I’m reaching out to other dentists to find those who are willing to help.

In the end, life is about loving people, building and lifting people, and this is no different.

The moments when I've been able to help others or give to others have helped my own pain and my own battles. I feel it's more strengthening to the giver often times, than it is to the receiver. The power in looking outward and loving and giving in whatever way you can, whether it's dentistry or anything—there is power in that.”

Dr. Cliff Doman

Lehi, Utah