To thank and support veterans, St. Louis Dental Center will host a special “Veterans Free Oral Health Day” on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at its clinic located at 1500 Park Avenue. Registration will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the same day, and veterans are welcome to attend on site.
This event is mainly aimed at veterans who lack dental health insurance or cannot afford routine dental care, and is committed to providing them with timely and high-quality services.
All participants are required to bring a photo ID and relevant proof of veteran status, such as a DD-214 form or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) card.
Affinia Healthcare’s health promotion team will also be on site to provide Medicaid application assistance for eligible uninsured adults.
“This is our ninth year providing this service to veterans,” said Dr. Herbert Silva, director of comprehensive care, assistant professor and director of the Veterans Denture Program at AT Still University Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH). “Our program is important because only about 15% of veterans are eligible for dental care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
The free clinic is sponsored by ATSU-MOSDOH, Affinia Healthcare and other donors. On the day, the dental center will set up a dedicated veteran clinic to provide comprehensive oral examinations and initial treatment services.
Since the inception of the event, more than 1,500 veterans have received professional screening and treatment; of these, more than 660 have received more than 1,300 sets of full or partial dentures at no charge.
“When veterans are no longer suffering from oral diseases and can smile again, they are more willing to participate in work, family and social life,” Dr. Silva pointed out. “This not only improves their health, but also helps reduce loneliness and depression and enhances a sense of social belonging.”
The St. Louis Dental Center calls on more veterans to participate in this event, taking an important step to improve oral health and rebuild a confident life.