I’m speaking on this because people keep talking about my teeth like they know my life. They don’t. I was pistol-whipped. Some of my teeth fell out. I went from having a smile I loved to dealing with damage that changed how I look, how I feel, and how I move through the world. And what really gets me is that people are quick to judge, but quiet when it comes to the cost of fixing what violence did.

This is bigger than me. So many domestic violence survivors are left carrying injuries long after the abuse ends, and dental trauma is one of them. Losing teeth is not just about appearance. It affects eating, speaking, working, confidence, and healing. Survivors should not be told that rebuilding their mouth after an assault is just “cosmetic” and therefore not worth covering.

I’m calling for insurance regulators and lawmakers to require health plans to cover dental reconstruction for domestic violence survivors when teeth are lost or damaged because of abuse. If someone is beaten and loses teeth, that is trauma care. That is medical necessity. Survivors should not have to come up with a bag of money just to repair the damage from violence and try to feel whole again.

If you believe survivors deserve real support, not judgment, sign this petition. Help demand coverage that treats dental care after domestic violence like the essential care it is. Nobody should have to choose between living with trauma on their face and going broke trying to fix it.