Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
Veterans of military service have given so much to their country. But complicated eligibility requirements for dental benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs leave many veterans without coverage for necessary dental treatments, leaving some suffering from pain, cavities, missing teeth, and delayed treatment.
![Rutgers Dental VetSmile](https://hfnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/RutgersDental.jpg")
To improve the situation, HFNJ provided two grants – $186,165 in 2022 and $250,000 in 2023 – to Rutgers School of Dental Medicine to support their VETSmile program. This program provides free dental care to veterans in Essex County who are not eligible to receive VA dental benefits, including comprehensive, restorative, periodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery, oral facial pain, TMJ, and endodontics care.
Early on during this project Rutgers realized that the scope of need among the target population would far eclipse the resources available through this grant. VETSmile enrolled 133 total patients, with another 177 placed on a waiting list and eager to join the program. HFNJ’s funding also provides for a Patient Navigator, who works to guide patients skillfully and compassionately through their journey to improved oral health.
As the project continues into its second year, patients who have been able to take part are thrilled with the services they have received. During the first year of the program, $300,717 worth of completed or planned dental work was provided. 85.7% of vets report high satisfaction with the program and 14.3% report satisfaction – smiles all around.