NSW Dentist | Issue 5 2026 |

By Wendy Martin, Contributing writer

For years, Kenny had learned to hide his smile.

After going around seven years without dental treatment, Kenny’s teeth had deteriorated significantly. For the past four years, he had become increasingly conscious of his appearance, covering his mouth with his hand, avoiding eye contact and trying not to draw attention to his teeth.

“It’s hard not to feel ashamed when you’re looking in the mirror,” Kenny says. “When you’re always self-aware of your teeth being a problem, that can really weigh heavily on your conscience.”

The impact went far beyond his oral health. Kenny had built a career in international corporate advisory, but a series of difficult life events changed his circumstances. Dental treatment became something he kept putting off while other challenges took priority.

“I was always thinking, ‘I’ll get my teeth sorted,’” he says. “But it got to a stage where life was pretty tough for me.”

By the time Kenny connected with Filling the Gap, getting his teeth treated had become one of his top priorities. His dental problems were affecting his confidence, his ability to communicate with others and even his prospects of returning to the professional work he loved.

For someone who had always been financially self-sufficient, asking for help was difficult. A caseworker from The Salvation Army told Kenny about Filling the Gap after seeing information about the initiative.

What followed would become a turning point.

A different kind of dental experience

Kenny was referred to volunteer dentist Dr Kate Amos in Coffs Harbour. From his first appointment, he says, he felt welcomed and respected.

“From the start, I got treated so well. Everyone was so nice,” Kenny says. “Dr Amos has just been absolutely incredible.”

After 5 months on the Filling the Gap waiting list, Dr Amos and her practice took on Kenny as a patient, providing comprehensive care from pain relief through to the completion of his treatment.

“It wasn’t fancy dentistry by any stretch of the imagination,” Dr Amos says. “But it was necessary for his mouth — and from what Kenny said, it’s made a big difference to him.”

For Kenny, however, the treatment represented far more than a series of dental procedures. “It gave me hope and value back in myself that other people valued me and were going to give me that time.”

The return of a smile

Today, Kenny says one of the biggest changes is simple: he smiles again.

“I’m a happy person. I love smiling,” he says. “Having spent years trying to hide my smile, it’s just amazing to be able to smile again.”

Everyday experiences have changed. Kenny can eat more comfortably, enjoy hot and cold foods and drinks again, have his photograph taken and, perhaps most importantly, face other people without constantly worrying about his teeth.

“It’s changed the way that I perceive myself,” he says. “I feel better about myself.”

That renewed confidence is also helping Kenny look towards the future. He is now considering restarting his advisory company because he feels confident enough to stand in front of it again.

One patient can create a ripple effect

For Dr Amos, Kenny’s story demonstrates exactly why she volunteers with Filling the Gap. “Filling the Gap helps to keep that little spark of why I became a dentist in the first place,” she says.

Dr Amos believes dentists do not need to make an enormous commitment to make a meaningful difference. Her practice adopts one patient at a time, seeing them through their complete course of care before taking on another patient.

“If we each can contribute where we can, how we can, we can have a bigger ripple effect,” she says. “Even one patient a year can have a big impact on our communities over time.”

For Kenny, the message is equally clear. “Don’t let pride or embarrassment stop you from asking for help,” he says. “The benefits that you get go well beyond just having your teeth fixed.”

And he has a message for the dentists who volunteer their time and expertise. “You’re saying to me that you’re worth my time, and that I’m also a valuable member of the community,” Kenny says.

For Kenny, Filling the Gap didn’t simply fix his teeth. It helped him rediscover his smile, rebuild his confidence and begin looking forward again.

“Don’t underestimate what dental treatment can do to change somebody’s life,” he says.