Nebraska veterans receive $550,000 in free dental care at VETMOM event

YUTAN, NEB — Hundreds of veterans, spouses, and surviving spouses received free dental care worth over $550,000 during Nebraska’s third Veterans Mission of Mercy (VETMOM) Dental Event at the Nebraska National Guard Titan Readiness Center near Yutan on Sept. 26 and 27. The event aimed to address the significant gap in dental care access for Nebraska’s 115,000 veterans, of whom only about 10% qualify for dental care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly, who toured the site, praised the initiative, saying, “It’s hard to put into words how incredible this dental clinic is.” He noted the dedication of volunteers who sacrificed their weekend for the cause, emphasizing the importance of repaying veterans for their service.

The event, a collaboration between the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) and several dental organizations, provided over 2,500 dental services, including cleanings, fillings, root canals, and extractions, to approximately 425 patients. More than 100 dentures were also provided, with Dental Designs technicians working around the clock to deliver prosthetics within 24 hours.

State Dental Health Director Dr. Charles F. Craft highlighted the challenge many veterans face in accessing quality dental care, particularly the need for dentures. “The ability to receive dentures quickly within a 48-hour period speaks to the dedication of our many professional volunteers and partner organizations,” he said.

The event was supported by hundreds of volunteers, including dentists, dental students, and non-dental volunteers from local American Legion and VFW posts. Sponsors included Hornaday, Dental Designs, Ameritas, Patterson Dental, Dexis Imaging, Google, and Farmers Mutual.

Dr. James Jenkins, associate professor at the UNMC College of Dentistry and VETMOM clinical director, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve veterans. “I hope they felt appreciated for their service to our nation,” he said. “It was a true team effort, and all the volunteers worked very hard and did a great job.”

A post-event survey revealed that over 45% of respondents cited cost or lack of dental insurance as barriers to receiving care, while over 20% traveled 100 miles or more to attend. More than 98% reported being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their experience.

Since 2023, VETMOM events in Nebraska have provided over $1.6 million in dental care to 1,250 veterans and their families. Another event is tentatively planned for fall 2026. Interested individuals can sign up for updates at veterans.nebraska.gov/newsletter.