Nearly 500 Aspen Dental offices to provide free care to an estimated 5,000 veterans on June 9
Aspen Dental recently announced its fifth annual Day of Service event, which provides free dental care to this nation's veterans, will be held Saturday, June 9. During the annual event, dentists and teams from approximately 500 Aspen Dental offices will provide free dental care to thousands of veterans.
Like millions of other Americans, veterans can struggle to find oral health care when they need it, as they are not eligible for dental benefits through the Veterans Administration unless they are 100 percent disabled, have a service-related mouth injury or were a prisoner of war.
Aspen Dental is working to close this gap through its Healthy Mouth Movement, a community-giving initiative that provides free dental care and oral health education to veterans. Since the launch of the Healthy Mouth Movement, approximately 10,000 dentists and their teams from Aspen Dental practices across the country have volunteered their time and donated over $10 million in dentistry to more than 17,000 veterans and people in need.
"Day of Service means so much to me because I've seen firsthand how difficult it is for veterans to access the dental care they desperately need," said Dr. Jere Gillan, an Aspen Dental practice owner in Florida and U.S. Air Force veteran. "I'm honored to be part of an organization that is so committed to making a difference in the lives of some very deserving people: our nation's veterans."
Norman Crabbs is one such veteran who has been touched by the Healthy Mouth Movement.
"I hadn't been to a dentist since I served in the Army, and for a really long time I couldn't smile without being embarrassed," said Crabbs, a Vietnam veteran who will be receiving free care as part of these efforts. "I can't thank the doctors at Aspen Dental enough for giving me back my smile. I could never have afforded all the services I needed and now I can't wait to show my new friends at the Aspen Dental office the photos of me smiling at my 50th high school reunion this summer."
Veterans can call 1-844-277-3646 (1-844-ASPENHMM) to find a participating Aspen Dental office in their community and schedule an appointment during the annual Day of Service on June 9. Advance appointments are required. During the Day of Service, Aspen Dental dentists and teams treat the most urgent needs of each veteran to ensure they are relieved of any dental pain, including anything from fillings and extractions to basic denture repairs. Routine cleanings and exams are also provided.
In addition to the efforts of local volunteers on the Day of Service, the Healthy Mouth Movement is also reaching veterans through its MouthMobile, a 42-foot long fully equipped dentist office on wheels that travels state to state providing free care to veterans in communities where care may not be easy to access. It has traveled to more than 30 states over the past four years.
Local participating offices:
Aspen Dental
- 7426 Niagara Falls Blvd.
- Niagara Falls, NY 14304
- 716-371-1005
Aspen Dental
- 1730 Niagara Falls Blvd., Suite 300
- Tonawanda, NY 14150
- 716-220-8083
Aspen Dental
- 1060 McKinley Mall
- Blasdell, NY 14219
- 716-249-6475
