In late September, the University of Nebraska Medical Center School of Dentistry in Lincoln will once again participate in the Nebraska Veterans Charity Dental Clinic, its annual outreach event in Uttam, Nebraska.
The 2025 VETMOM event will be held at the Army National Guard’s Titan Readiness Center in Meade. During the three-day event, faculty, staff, students, and volunteer dentists will provide comprehensive dental care to Nebraska veterans and their spouses.
Treatments provided include exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, and limited denture services.
Dr. Jim Jenkins, professor in the Department of Adult Restorative Dentistry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, has served as clinical director since the program’s inception in 2023.
The program is organized by the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs, coordinated by the Office of Oral Health and Dentistry within the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, and funded by the Nebraska Dental Foundation.
Over 300 patients are expected to be treated this year, thanks to the support of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University School of Dentistry, as well as volunteer dentists and dental hygienists from across the state.
“The participation of our students, faculty, and staff has been phenomenal,” said Dr. Jenkins. “This is a truly meaningful service for veterans who need it most.”
Hands-on Learning for Dental Students
Senior dental students will have priority access to patient chairs, but even when the chairs are full, there’s still a lot of work to do—sterilization, radiology, triage, and prosthetic support.
Dr. Greg Bennett, chair of the Department of Adult Restorative Dentistry, will lead a team in scanning dentures. With the help of a local dental design firm, dentures are often fabricated overnight for patients who need them.
The University of Nebraska-Madison (UNMC) Department of Dental Hygiene will also be participating. Assistant Professor Jaimee Shropshire typically brings 10 to 15 students, and this year, 11 students have registered. She expects more students and faculty to join before the event begins.
“The students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to help veterans,” said Dr. Shropshire. “They left the event feeling revitalized because they knew they had made a real difference.”
Long-Term Impact Beyond a Single Event
Patients will be referred to the University of Nebraska-Madison and Creighton Schools of Dentistry, Lincoln Compassion Clinic, People’s City Mission, and federally qualified medical centers for follow-up care. “We don’t want this to be just a Band-Aid,” said Dr. Jenkins.
However, not all patients’ dental needs can be met at the event. “It’s certainly difficult to not be able to do everything, but our goal is to do as much as possible,” Shropshire noted.
Dr. Charles F. Craft, Director of the Nebraska Office of Oral Health, emphasized that veterans often lack access to regular dental benefits.
“Veterans have told us that dental care is one of their top health priorities,” he said. “Clearly, we need to take action—and Nebraska has the resources to make it happen.”
Since the first VETMOM event in 2023, the program has grown rapidly. In 2024, over 400 patients received 2,700 services valued at $650,000. Organizers anticipate even greater participation this year, with nearly 400 dental volunteers.
A Model for Other States
The initiative has received national recognition and has won numerous awards for its innovative collaborations with state agencies, dental schools, the National Guard, and local laboratories.
“These organizations don’t typically work together, but when they do, the results are remarkable,” said Dr. Craft. “Other states are now looking to replicate Nebraska’s model.”
For Jenkins, Shropshire, and the numerous student and professional volunteers, the initiative’s mission is simple: to honor those who have served our country. “I am deeply honored to give back to our veterans,” said Jenkins.