As Veterans Day approaches, we have an incredible opportunity to express our gratitude to the brave heroes who have selflessly served our country. While we often think of parades, ceremonies, and heartfelt messages, there's another, more tangible way we can make a difference in the lives of veterans. This Veterans Day and throughout the year, let's come together as a community to support veterans in need through the power of oral healthcare. As a Dental professional, you can make a lasting impact on the lives of veterans in your local community. By volunteering with Everyone for Veterans (E4V) to help just one veteran a year, you can ensure that they receive the dental care they desperately need.

Everyone for Veterans began in 2017 as a grassroots movement started by Dr. Theresa Cheng, a periodontist from Issaquah, WA. Today, it is a national organization working across 37 states, providing veterans and their families with goods, services, and comprehensive dental care. Our unique program not only addresses current dental issues but also sets our veterans on a path to long-term oral and overall health.

For veterans, the dental care they receive doesn’t just restore smiles; it restores self-confidence, dignity, and quality of life. Many veterans have shared with us that the pain they’ve endured from untreated dental problems holds them back from leading full, productive lives. By eliminating pain and addressing these issues, we help veterans regain their health. With renewed self-confidence, many of these veterans feel ready to pursue new job opportunities or return to school. A healthy smile opens doors—to professional success, to connection, to possibilities they never thought were within their reach. And that’s what we’re doing—helping to create pathways to brighter tomorrows.

Our volunteers are changing lives with every appointment. We hear daily from veterans about how their self-confidence has soared, how they feel happier and healthier, and how their relationships with family and friends have strengthened. One of our veterans recently shared, “I had a life changing experience. Without all your help I wouldn't have a smile and I would still be in constant pain. I was very grateful to be treated with care and respect, it was nice to be treated as a person and not as a charity case. Thank you for saving my life.”

Today, we invite you to help put our mission in motion by volunteering as a partnering dentist with Everyone for Veterans. To learn more about how you can get involved, please visit our website at www.everyoneforveterans.org or contact our team at dental@everyoneforveterans.org.

With the recent launch of the ADA’s Give Veterans a Smile Program, there is no better time than now to get involved. Together we can make a lasting difference in the lives of our veterans and their families. They served us, now it is our turn to serve them.