What is Give Veterans A Smile?


A program created to help call national attention to the unmet oral health needs of Veterans by:


 Encouraging dentists to provide pro bono oral health care services to Veterans in need during the month of November and then offer to serve as their dental home or refer them to a dental facility that can become their dental home, and


 Collecting data and sharing the value of charitable oral health care provided nationally to Veterans in order to help guide advocacy efforts aimed at increasing funding and access to care for Veterans.


Why is Give Veterans


A Smile Needed?  82%, or about 7.4 million Veterans enrolled in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system, are ineligible for VA dental benefits.* To qualify for dental services, Veterans must either have a dental issue that is service-connected or qualify based on narrow criteria.


 Oral health equity for all is a priority for the American Dental Association and the ADA Foundation. No population deserves to be left behind. Everyone deserves to be healthy and treated equally.


* Data provided by Veterans Health Administration, January 29, 2024.


How will Give Veterans


A Smile be accomplished?  Step-by-step toolkits and resources will encourage and help guide dentists to provide oral health services in their dental practices or assist Veterans to find a dental facility that can become their dental home;


 Links to organizations that render comprehensive care to Veterans will continually be provided and updated;


 Partnerships and collaborations will continue to be formed with dental and non-dental companies that benefit both the volunteer dentist and the Veteran, and


 Guidance will be provided on Medicaid, private insurance and TRICARE.


How can I be a part of the Give Veterans A Smile movement?


Scan the code on the right to learn more about how YOU can make a difference in the life of a Veteran.


ADAfoundation.org/GVAS 22 focus | FALL 2024 | ISSUE 3


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