YUTAN, Neb. — On September 26 and 27, hundreds of Nebraska veterans, spouses, and surviving spouses received free dental care at the Nebraska National Guard Titan Readiness Center near Yutan during the state’s third Veterans Mission of Mercy (VETMOM) Dental Event. The care provided is valued at more than $550,000.
Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly, who visited the site on September 26, praised the effort. “Every room is filled with patients and bustling with activity,” he said. “Hundreds of volunteers gave up their weekend for this worthy cause. Our veterans have served to protect us, and as Nebraskans, we are here to repay them.”
Of Nebraska’s 115,000 veterans, only about 10% qualify for dental care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Access to dental care is the most requested need reported to the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA), which provided over $300,000 in emergency dental assistance through the Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund in fiscal year 2025. The VETMOM event aims to help bridge this gap.
NDVA Director John Hilgert commended the organizers and sponsors. “From planning and execution to private businesses donating time and materials, this is a true community effort,” he said. “We know there’s a need, and Nebraskans are stepping up to meet it. This event runs like clockwork, and we look forward to continuing it for years to come.”
The two-day clinic delivered more than 2,500 dental services, including cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, and x-rays, across roughly 425 patient visits. Over 100 dentures were provided. Dentists took digital impressions that were sent to Dental Designs, where technicians designed and 3D-printed prosthetics. A team of about 30 technicians worked on-site and in the lab to deliver partials and dentures within 24 hours of patients’ first visits.
“Accessing dental care is a major challenge for many veterans, particularly older individuals,” said Dr. Charles F. Craft, State Dental Health Director. “Many patients required dentures for proper nutrition. The ability to receive them quickly reflects the dedication of volunteers and partner organizations.”
The event was a partnership between NDVA, the Nebraska National Guard, the DHHS Office of Oral Health and Dentistry, the Nebraska Dental Association, the Nebraska Dental Hygienists’ Association, UNMC College of Dentistry, and Creighton University School of Dentistry. Hundreds of volunteers, including dentists, dental students, hygienists, and local organizations such as the American Legion and VFW, supported the effort. Sponsors included Hornaday, Dental Designs, Ameritas, Patterson Dental, Dexis Imaging, Google, and Farmers Mutual.
Dr. James Jenkins, VETMOM clinical director, reflected on the event: “It was an honor to care for our veterans. This team effort brought new smiles to many, and both volunteers and patients felt the reward of helping one another.”