OLDSMAR, Fla. — A new state grant is giving Florida veterans access to long-overdue dental treatment many could not afford or qualify for in the past.
The Florida Veterans Foundation awarded a $400,000 grant to the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund (WVRF), which has already provided dental care to 120 veterans. The program is open to former service members who meet income requirements, including those earning up to 300% below the federal poverty level. Importantly, veterans do not need to have a service-connected disability to qualify.
“This grant opens doors for so many veterans who would otherwise fall through the cracks,” said Tami Marti, director of veterans programs for WVRF.
One of the beneficiaries is Army veteran Eric Tranholm, who recently completed his third appointment at Nova Dental.
“I’m getting my permanent crowns put in today, and I might be getting fitted for my partials,” Tranholm said, noting it was the first time in decades he felt hopeful about his dental health.
Tranholm’s dental problems began in the early 1990s while he was serving in the Army. Over the years, his condition worsened, leaving him embarrassed and self-conscious.
“I would hide my mouth when I talk, when I smile,” he said. “It was an embarrassment thing. I was very self-conscious of it.”
At his first dental visit under the program, doctors found multiple fractured teeth, extensive decay, and significant pain. Dr. Saed Sayegh of Nova Dental said that without intervention, most of Tranholm’s teeth would have eventually required removal.
Tranholm recalled the turning point: “I was trying to chew food, and a large piece got lodged in my throat because I couldn’t chew it properly. That’s when I knew I had to do something.”
For years, cost kept him from getting help. Without insurance or eligibility for dental care through the Department of Veterans Affairs, he estimated treatment would have cost more than $11,000.
“I have a family. $11,000 can go a long way for my family,” he said. “So I had to put myself on the back burner, like I’ve done for the last 15 years.”
Thanks to the state grant, Tranholm finally received the care he needed. To date, WVRF has spent $330,000 of the funding, with more veterans scheduled for treatment in the coming months.
One of WVRF’s central missions is to ensure that veterans like Tranholm no longer have to choose between essential health care and supporting their families.