Veterans merit every benefit
The men and women who have defended American ideals through military service deserve every benefit we can give them.
So it’s unconscionable that most veterans don’t receive full dental care through the Department of Veterans Affairs unless they are rated 100% disabled, have a service-related mouth injury or were a prisoner of war.
On May 10, Aspen Dental’s “Mouth-Mobile” vehicle came to Somerville as part of a national tour, providing free dental care to vets. The 42-foot-long dental office on wheels was staffed by local dentists, hygienists and volunteers, working with Tufts Dental School and Veterans Inc.
Dr. Arun Srinivasan, a veteran and Aspen Dental practice owner who spearheaded the Somerville event, served as an Army reservist for 10 years. While there, he provided dental care to active duty soldiers.
“I know the fear they have,” he said. “They carry that; dental care is very cost-prohibitive so a lot don’t get the care they need.
“It’s an honor to help our vets, and the vets that get treatment have a lot of gratitude.”
The Mayo Clinic details the terrible ramifications of poor dental health. A mouth is rife with bacteria — kept at bay through “the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing.” People without good oral health habits or users of certain medications — such as decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers, diuretics and antidepressants — can be susceptible to reduced bacteria defenses. And, Mayo states, “certain diseases, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS, can lower the body’s resistance to infection, making oral health problems more severe.”
All of which put our vets at risk. Despite the shortfall in coverage through the VA, Srinivasan said the agency supports Aspen Dental’s work. “VA people help me choose who really needs help,” he said. “They support our work.”
On June 8, dental offices will further offer free care during a “Day of Service,” when Aspen offices across the country will open their doors to vets to provide free care. Appointments have filled up quickly, but Boston-area veterans can make an appointment to receive free care.
Veterans can receive help from the VA (va.gov/health-care/aboutva-health-benefits/dental-care), but there’s a strong argument that more can be done. This should be an easy one for the VA, which should fix this oversight and provide more dental care for our armed forces. Veterans shouldn’t have to pay for basic dental care: They’ve already paid enough.