A few members of the 2014 dental hygiene class joined the DMD students for a volunteer project at the Vancouver Native Health Society early this year. We helped the DMD students distribute oral self-care kits and demonstrate oral self-care techniques to 40 Aboriginal women who had experienced abuse and who met together on a weekly basis. This experience was eye-opening as the women shared first hand experiences of mistreatment by dentists and expressed their lack of trust of dental professionals. Many of the women have not sought dental treatment since these negative experiences. However, despite this, the women were very interested in increasing their knowledge on oral health. Some of the women expressed that they did not want their children and grandchildren to experience the oral health issues they have faced. The women were patient and open to our advice and suggestions, and were grateful for the time we spent with them. It was a wonderful opportunity to apply the knowledge we have gained about oral health as well as the social factors involved with populations with unique needs – such as women, Aboriginals, and individuals who have been abused. We were able to provide toothbrushes, floss, and other oral self-care items along with the knowledge on how to properly use them in the hopes that increasing their oral health knowledge would foster confidence in themselves and in dental professionals. As important figures in their families and community, I hope these women will also be able to share this information with others and continue to increase oral health awareness in this population.