Dental program aids NM female veterans

The statewide New Mexico Women Veterans Smile Program celebrated the first year with 16 female veterans completing dental services through the Donated Dental Services program. The total of care donated to female veterans who qualified totaled $72,142 in treatment. Another 14 female veterans remain in active treatment.

Veterans Affairs does not provide dental services to veterans unless they are 100 percent disabled or wounded in service. Some female veterans had not been to a dentist for years and many saved money to send their children but not themselves.

In first quarter 2016, Albuquerque volunteers Kyla and Roger Thompson contacted their dentist, Dr. Byron Wall, about donated dental services for female veterans. Wall arranged a meeting with Linda Paul, executive director of the New Mexico Dental Association Foundation, and retired Lt. Col. Pat Gaston, president of N.M. Women Veterans, and all agreed to begin a program to provide dental services. Numerous dentists from around the state agreed to provide the services.

The Thompsons approached the New Mexico Beverage Association for funding, and the local members gave $18,000. The American Beverage Association also joined in with $9,000. Funding has not only been adequate for the first year, but will provide funding for two more years, sustaining the program.

David Thorpe, executive director of the N.M. Beverage Association, stated, “We are delighted with the first year’s results of this important program. Our members both locally and nationally want to give back to these patriots who live in communities where we do business.”

Although 14 women remain in the pipeline for donated services, it is anticipated that more female veterans will qualify over the next two years.

Linda Paul, executive director of the N.M. Dental Association Foundation, said, “This is a wonderful result for the first year, and our dentists are proud to have been part of the success

and health care for our women veterans.”