Because of neglect, her teeth were so rotten they looked like marbleized bread.

After years of abuse and neglect from her domestic partner, a local woman (whose identity is confidential) will find her smile again, both emotionally and physically.

Dr. Allan Mohr, who practices cosmetic and restorative dentistry in Massapequa Park, will repair her teeth free of charge.

She will receive $25,000 to $30,000 worth of dental work -- as part of the Give Back a Smile Program founded by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Since 1999,

the organization has helped 735 domestic-abuse victims repair their teeth; currently 412 applicants are being treated across the United States.

Flipping through the photog r aphs taken of this woman's teeth, it's hard not to cringe. Her top teeth were so badly damaged and decayed that you can see black decay under the enamel. A tooth was knocked out by her domestic partner, and she was not allowed to go to the dentist. When she did manage to go, he refused to pay for procedures.

In photo, Dr. Allan Mohr gives dental care to a patient at his office. "She will lose all her top teeth," Mohr said candidly. He is still trying to figure out the best course of action. So far, he has filled in cavities and done cleanings.

Over the next year, he plans to meet with her dozens of times before he fully restores her smile. It will be a team effort involving his staff and local oral surgeons, he said.

But already, just after a few visits, he said that he has seen a change in her. She has started to open up about her past and is planning for the future. She told him, "Outside of winning the lottery, this is the best thing that could have happened to me."

With her new smile, she plans to look for a new job, he said.

"The restoration of smiles can offer a sense of closure, improvement in self esteem and also enable survivors of domestic violence to re-enter the work force," agreed Lisa Fitch, the foundation program manager of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation. "It can be extremely difficult for someone to get a job with missing or broken teeth. Not only does the Give Back a Smile program restore smiles, but it also restores lives."

"This is a phenomenal program," said Mindy Perlmutter, spokeswoman for the Nassau County Domestic Violence Coalition. "Any program that helps victims of domestic violence get healthier will be a blessing for the victim: whatever helps them to get back onto their own two feet, to be healthy and feel good about themselves to move onto the next steps of their lives."

Recently Connie Culp received national attention with successful reconstructive surgery and a face transplant, after her husband shot her in the face with a shotgun. But domestic violence has many expressions, explained Perlmutter, director of education for Nassau County Domestic Violence Coalition.

It is estimated that one in four women will be a victim of domestic of violence in her lifetime, she said. Furthermore, Nassau County police respond to approximately 14,000 domestic incident calls each year.

In a Massapequa Park dentist's office with drill bits, a spit-bowl and pointy metal instruments, it's funny to think that this is the setting for a comforting friendship.

"It's the most rewarding thing when you can build a relationship with someone," said Dr. Mohr. "It's amazing, when you can gain their trust and see how their personality changes just by providing the right kind of care."

Dr. Mohr has given money to good causes before, but he wanted to help directly. As a cosmetic dentist who fixes cracked, discolored or damaged teeth, this charitable effort was the perfect filling.