Giving Veterans Their Smiles Back

Input by AAVD Founder Linda Haigh

Have you heard of the Adopt a Vet Dental Program (AAVD)? We are a statewide veteran-serving nonprofit organization, and our mission is to provide free critical and life-saving dental care to low-income veterans in Nevada. A shocking 92% of veterans are not eligible for dental care at the VA because the qualifications are so restrictive. This has left the vast majority of veterans without dental care which has led to an epidemic of oral health disease among our veterans in Nevada.

Thankfully, many veterans who cannot get VA dental care receive dental insurance through their work but there are also thousands of veterans who work without dental benefits. Also, there are thousands of veterans who are not able to work, and thousands who are now retired and on a limited income. Not having access to affordable dental care has left these veterans to fight the battle of tooth decay on their own but it is a battle they are losing. Most of these veterans have suffered painful oral conditions for years from decayed teeth and life-threatening abscesses and infections, which have really affected their overall health. They have been embarrassed to smile with a few teeth or no teeth, and the stigma of not being able to smile led them to isolation, loss of self-esteem, and the inability to function in a job or in social situations.

Since 2010, AAVD has targeted the low-income veterans who do not qualify for VA dental care and cannot afford to see a dentist. We believe every veteran deserves a healthy smile and have become the veteran’s last and only hope to receive the free dental treatment they deserve. AAVD has recruited over 150 volunteer dentists that have provided dental care to over 1,725 low-income Veterans and donated over $9.2 million in services to help these veterans. They have saved and transformed the lives of our veterans who can now eat without pain, chew, and digest their food for better nourishment, physically feel better and become more social, and smile once again! Equipped with these new smiles, they can now continue their legacy of service by volunteering and/or working in their community which is our end goal.

Despite our successes, our work is far from over but with the incredible support from our dental providers, community donors and grantors, the Nevada Department of Veterans Services, and the State of Nevada, we will continue to impact the lives of our veterans. However, we need your help! If you are a low-income Veteran and need dental care, please call us directly at 775-470-8707 for Northern Nevada, or 702-268-2836 for Southern Nevada, to see if you qualify. You can also go to our website for more information and/or check out the stories and photos of veterans we have helped. Please share this article with your friends and family and get the word out that the Adopt a Vet Dental Program is here to serve our veterans!