Current

Issue

Program to help combat veterans receive free oral care expanding

throughout nation
March 08, 2019

By David Burger

Gratitude: University of Iowa dental student Craig Kozeluh smiles after dental
treatment of a Vietnam War veteran through the Everyone For Veterans
program. All treatment was supervised by a qualified dentist. Photo courtesy of
Dr. Theresa Cheng.

Issaquah, Wash. — Jason Morrison, a former Marine sergeant, did not have dental benefits since his seven-
year stint in the service ended in 2003.

He said his dental problems “added up over the past several years,” so someone at his local Veterans Affairs
office suggested he contact an organization called Everyone For Veterans, or E4V for short, to see if they
could help.
“They called me right back,” Mr. Morrison said. “They were eager to provide me assistance. It was a
blessing.”

E4V connected him with Dr. Dave Minahan, who donated his services to treat Mr. Morrison. The patient
received fillings, had a crown recasted and even had some cosmetic work done for a chipped front tooth. “It
was amazing,” Mr. Morrison said. “It was a very stress-free experience. I got everything ship-shape.”

Mr. Morrison is one of about 400 veterans in more than 15 states that has received free dental treatment as a
result of E4V, a Washington state-based nonprofit that connects veterans with “wingmen,” otherwise known
as dentists who treat veterans at no charge. E4V has more than 400 dentists, plus dozens of specialists and
dental labs across the United States that have provided volunteer services to low-income veterans. Of those,
226 are in the state of Washington.

The growing organization is led by Washington state clinician Drs. Theresa

Cheng and Richard Williamson, a clinical associate professor in the
department of prosthodontics at The University of Iowa College of Dentistry
and Dental Clinics.

Dr. Cheng said she was inspired in 2008 after reading about a local soldier
who had suffered grave injuries in Fallujah, Iraq. “I really identified with the
mother whose life was turned upside down by caring for her son,” she said.
“Being naive about veteran issues, we decided as an office to give back to
family members with free dental care, thinking that veterans get dental care
from the VA.”

She continued: “I learned quickly that most veterans do not get dental
benefits, so we included the veterans in our program. Only veterans who Dr. Cheng
are designated 100-percent service-connected disability are eligible for VA
dental care, so most do not have dental benefits. They can buy a dental
plan through the VA, but for the low-income veterans, they cannot afford it.

“These low-income veterans are hardworking, working full-time jobs at what they can, often in low-paying
jobs with limited or no benefits,” Dr. Cheng said. “They raised their families and had a lifetime of sporadic
urgent care for their dental needs. They could never catch up with their dental care to have a healthy mouth.
For the veterans who’ve survived being in harm’s way, we felt that it is not right that they have to endure a
lifetime of dental disease. We decided that at least for the veterans who have returned from combat areas
and are low-income, we would provide comprehensive care.”

Dr. Cheng believed that she could not do it alone. “Being a periodontist, I needed the collaboration of other
dentists to complete their care. When I reached out to other dentists, most were happy to be included in
giving back to combat veterans. They said, ‘Theresa, I thank you for this opportunity to serve combat
veterans. I’ve wanted to give back to combat veterans, but where would I find them?’”
For Dr. Williamson, the issue hit close to home. “My son was a close-
quarters combat Marine in the battle in Fallujah,” he said. “When he
returned home and began his re-integration into civilian society, I observed
the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, moral injury, survivor’s guilt
and traumatic brain injury. However, he was one of the lucky veterans who
had a good support system and was able to develop a skillset to help
manage the above injuries, graduate college and secure a good job. Not all
veterans receive this support and may struggle to re-integrate into society.
This can create obstacles for securing good-paying jobs and dental care is
usually the lowest priority. Helping to provide dental care was a logical
place for me to begin to help veterans.”

Spreading their message can be a challenge, Dr. Cheng said, though the
program is ever-expanding. “We call dentists around the country where the
qualified veterans live and let them know about what we do and many have Dr. Williamson

answered our calls,” she said. “We also contact dental societies and
they’ve been helpful in getting the word out.”

Being at a college has led Dr. Williamson to introduce the program to his students. “Here at the University of
Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, we have combined E4V veteran dental care with an opportunity
to teach our students the valuable lessons of selflessness and taking responsibility for the goodness of
others,” he said. “When we first implemented E4V veteran dental care into the college of dentistry, we could
see the benefit for the veteran receiving good dental care, the student gaining valuable dental experience
and completing requirements, but we were humbled by the impact the veteran made on the student.
Consistently we were seeing students show a different type of commitment to their veteran patients; we
noticed stronger personal ownership for the veteran’s well-being beyond dentistry. The students were making
an effort to get to know their veteran patients and the closeness developed was unique and remarkable.
Everyone in the school has found joy with helping a veteran and students are asking to be given the
opportunity to treat a veteran.”

To register for the program, veterans must meet three requirements:

• Have been deployed to combat/imminent danger areas.

• Have low income.

• Does not have dental benefits from the VA.

Spouses of veterans who meet those requirements are also eligible.

 “Because of the sacrifices veterans and their families have made by serving in an all-volunteer military,
civilians have been able to pursue their lives in safety,” Dr. Williamson said. “Therefore, as a society, we each
share in the responsibility of caring for our returning veterans. When we heal a veteran, it enables them to be
a better spouse, parent and employee and their unique personal qualities and traits make them valuable
members of the community.”

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be working on veteran issues,” said Dr. Cheng.

“My family and I were never associated with the military nor veterans. What I knew of veterans were from
movies like ‘Born on the Fourth of July’ or ‘The Deer Hunter,’ and that there is not much I can do besides
donate to non-profits. I also assumed veterans are somewhat taken care of by the VA and they just need to
improve on what they do. However, fortuitously, I got connected with veterans and realizing I can make such
a huge difference in their lives just got me hooked. Somehow this bug bit me and I felt compelled to help
these very deserving individuals, one at a time. What would life be if we are not helping each other and our
communities?”

To learn more about E4V or to register as a dentist interested in the program, visit everyoneforveterans.org.

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