(Courtesy of Valley Arts Dental) Valley Arts Dental in West Orange will be serving the veteran community on Veterans Day, November 11, for its first-ever Veterans Smile Day. The dental professionals will be providing treatment including exams, fillings, cleanings and extractions, all free of charge. The practice has partnered with a local dental laboratory, Aesthetic Digital Solutions, to provide more involved dental solutions requiring a laboratory.

When speaking to some of the veteran patients, it was surprising to learn that essentially only those veterans who are 100% service-connected to the Veterans Administration (VA) (i.e. a total disability rating from the Veterans Health Administration) are granted access to dental care at the VA hospitals in New Jersey. In New Jersey, there are over 400,000 veterans and only a small fraction qualifies for any kind of dental benefits. Valley Arts Dental’s goal is to do a small part by helping these veterans maintain their oral health. They deserve access to high-quality healthcare, and that includes dental care. As general and family dentists, the practice has been serving the greater West Orange area for 30+ years and the entire team is excited to begin what they hope will be a long-term project.

Because of COVID-19, they require veterans to register online. After scheduling your appointment, you will receive a text message with the registration forms.

Veterans who schedule an appointment should bring their military/veteran ID or a valid DD214 (and a complete list of medications and medical history).

This year’s event will take place locally on Wednesday, November 11, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Valley Arts Dental in West Orange. For more information or appointments, call 973-731-8313.