Yutan, Neb. (KLKN) — Hundreds of Nebraska veterans and their spouses are receiving free dental care this weekend as the fourth annual Veterans Mission of Mercy works to fill a gap in dental coverage.
The two-day event at the Titan Readiness Center in Yutan brings together dentists, dental students, lab technicians and other volunteers to provide services ranging from cleanings and X-rays to oral surgery and dentures at no cost to patients.
James Jenkins, clinical director for the Veterans Mission of Mercy, said many people are surprised to learn that dental care is not covered for all veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“I’d like people to know that all veterans do not receive benefits from the VA,” Jenkins said. “You’ll be surprised at how many people I’ve talked to about this. They go, ‘I thought they got their care taken care of.’ No, they don’t, not their dental care.”
For some veterans, the event provides an opportunity to address dental pain or other problems they have lived with for years. For others, receiving a new set of dentures can make it easier to eat comfortably, smile with confidence and improve their quality of life.
Organizers expect between 400 and 450 veterans and spouses to receive some form of dental care over the two-day event.
“We will, over the next two days, 400 people, probably closer to 450, will come through here and receive some form of dental care,” said Levi Bennett, deputy director of the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “And we’re expecting 95 individuals to receive full sets of dentures.”
The impact of the event has continued to grow since it began four years ago.
During the first three Veterans Mission of Mercy events, more than 1,250 veterans and spouses received nearly 8,000 dental services. Organizers estimate the value of that care at more than $1.6 million.
After this weekend’s event, organizers expect the total value of dental care provided through the program to surpass $2 million.
Planning is already underway for the fifth annual Veterans Mission of Mercy next year.
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