Restoring confidence: Thembi’s journey back to her smile
Thembi* is a bright 16-year-old girl with a warm personality and a heart full of potential. Like many teenagers, she enjoys school, laughs easily, and brings light to those around her. She came into our care after escaping a home marked by domestic violence and abuse at the hands of her biological father.
Thembi is naturally a joyful, friendly, and expressive young person. But, she experienced an unfortunate accident – she lost a tooth while eating. For most teenagers, appearance plays a significant role in self-esteem, and for Thembi, the loss was devastating. She became self-conscious and began wearing a mask to school to hide her smile. Her teachers and caregivers noticed the change in her personality – the once vibrant young girl was now reserved, quiet, and distant. It was a difficult change to witness.
But, thanks to the generosity and the kindness of compassionate dental professionals, Thembi was able to receive a much-needed dental procedure to restore her smile. With her smile restored, Thembi no longer hides behind a mask. She’s smiling more, laughing freely, and carrying herself with renewed confidence. The change is not just physical – it’s emotional, deeply personal, and undeniably powerful. She is incredibly grateful to the dental team who gave her not just a new tooth, but a new beginning.
Thembi’s story is a reminder of the impact that compassion, care, and community support can have in a young person’s life. We are deeply grateful to everyone who played a role in giving her smile back.
*Pseudonym
Thembi se selfvertroue is herstel
Thembi* is ’n borrelende 16-jarige meisie met ’n warm persoonlikheid en baie potensiaal. Sy hou van skool, lag maklik, en word deur ander beskryf as die “ligstraal” in hulle lewe. Dit is wonderlik om haar weer te hoor lag, na jare se blootstelling aan huishoudelike geweld en mishandelig deur haar biologiese pa.
Thembi se lag en energie is aansteeklik en sy is baie sosiaal en geliefd onder haar maats en onderwysers. Toe Thembi vir dae afwesig is en haarself van aktiwiteite onttrek het haar onderwysers en versorgers dadelik geweet iets is nie pluis nie. Die rede waarom Thembi haar glimlag agter ‘n masker weggesteek het, was omdat sy ‘n tand verloor het terwyl sy geeet het. Daardie helder lig wat altyd in en om haar geskyn het was sommer verdoof. Sy het geen selfvertroue gehad nie en die eens vrolike opgeruimde tiener was skaam en teruggetrokke. Dit was hartseer om te sien hoe groot emosioenele impak die verlies van ‘n tand op hierdie meisie gehad het.
Danksy ‘n groep professionele tandheelkundiges is Thembi se glimlag herstel. “Ek gaan nooit weer ophou glimlag nie” het Thembi uitgeroep. Hierdie tandheelkundige span het vir Thembi baie meer as net ‘n nuwe tand gegee. Haar selfbeeld is herstel en sy kon die nuwe kwartaal vol selfvertroue begin. Niks staan nou meer in haar pad om bo haar omstandighede uit te styg nie.
Baie dankie aan elke lid van die span wat gehelp het om Thembi se glimlag te herstel en haar lig weer helder te laat skyn.
*Skuilnaam