Hundreds of Aspen Dental locations nationwide will offer free dental services to veterans on June 8.
Beginning May 1, veterans can simply call 844-277-3646 to find a participating Aspen Dental office in their community and schedule an appointment for June 8, to receive urgent dental care from fillings, extraction, to even denture repair, according to Military.com
For the past six years, Aspen has carried the promotion, called “Day of Service,” as a part of their Health Mouth Movement initiative. They only require an appointment be made in advance.
In 2018, Aspen gave free services to more than 4,300 veterans, according to their website.
Aspen Dental said the reason they offer these services is that in 2018 alone, 150 million Americans didn’t go to the dentist due to lack of funds, access to care, and fear of the dentist.
They said that the challenge is even more difficult for many veterans who are not eligible for dental benefits through VA. To be eligible, the veteran must be 100 percent disabled, have been a POW, or have a mouth injury that was related to their service, Aspen explained.
In addition to offering no-cost dental services for a day, Aspen also offers a comprehensive dental plan for moving forward and gives veterans information on free or low-cost dental resources.
The Healthy Mouth Movement offers fillings, extractions, routine cleanings, exams, and denture repair.
Aspen Dental is providing free dental care to Veterans nationwide June 8. Veterans can call 844-277-3646 to find a participating Aspen Dental office nearby and schedule an appointment for June 8. Appointments are required, so call before they’re booked. https://t.co/BIyNDjMDAg
— VAProvidence (@VAProvidence) May 6, 2019
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers comprehensive dental care benefits only to certain qualifying veterans. However, qualification depends on military service history, current health condition, and current living situation, according to the VA.
Veterans may check their eligibility through the Dental Benefits for Veterans document, according to VA.
Those who don’t qualify can buy dental insurance at a lower rate through the VA Dental Insurance Program.
Also, veterans who have served recently could be eligible for free dental care limited to one visit. To qualify, they must have served for a minimum of 90 days and must apply within 180 of discharge.
VA will make an assessment based on those factors and then assigns veterans to a benefits class, which will determine what benefits they may be entitled to.
Applications for dental health care can be easily accessed on the 10-10EZ health care application. Services are provided at more than 200 clinics nationwide.
