SYRACUSE, N.Y., May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Veterans across the nation will receive free dental care at nearly 400 participating Aspen Dental practices on Saturday, June 25, as part of Aspen Dental's annual Healthy Mouth Movement Day of Service, when dentists and teams volunteer their time and talents for the day.
Since the launch of the Healthy Mouth Movement in 2014, Aspen Dental practices have collectively donated more than $4 million in free dental care and have served 7,300 patients.
Of the 21 million+ veterans across the U.S. today, fewer than 10 million are enrolled for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits, and more than 1.2 million lack health insurance altogether. The disparity is even more pronounced when it comes to dental care since veterans do not receive dental benefits through the VA unless they are classified as 100% disabled, have a service-connected dental condition, or have a service-oriented medical condition that is affected by their mouth.
"I've worked with Aspen Dental over the last two years to spread the word about the need for oral health care awareness among our veterans," said Healthy Mouth Movement ambassador and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick. "When it comes to dentistry, the team at Aspen knows that there are a lot of barriers for veterans, from cost to lack of insurance benefits. It's incredible that they've made this multi-year commitment to donating free care to our nation's vets."
Advance appointments are required. Interested veterans should call 1-844-Aspen-HMM to find a participating Aspen Dental office in their community and schedule an appointment in advance. During appointments on June 25, volunteer dentists and teams will focus on treating the most urgent need of each veteran – including fillings, extractions and basic denture repair – to help free them of dental pain.
"We're passionate about making dentistry easier and we hope that our Day of Service helps to empower veterans with a healthy mouth," said Dr. Jere Gillan, Air Force veteran and Aspen Dental practice owner in Orlando, FL. "For me and all of the Aspen Dental dentists and teams who volunteer on this Saturday, there's a great feeling of satisfaction that comes from giving back to the veteran community."
In addition to the efforts of local volunteers on June 25, the Healthy Mouth Movement is also reaching veterans through its MouthMobile, a 42-foot mobile dentist office on wheels that drives directly into the communities where veterans need oral health care the most to provide free care. In its third year, the MouthMobile is stopping at 32 locations in 25 states from February through November.
The 2016 Healthy Mouth Movement also continues its partnership with Got Your 6 – meaning "I've got your back" – a collective impact campaign that works to bridge the military-civilian divide. Got Your 6 focuses on areas of veteran reintegration, including leadership, health and education.
About Aspen Dental Practices
Dentists and staff at Aspen Dental practices believe everyone has the right to quality, affordable oral health care. As one of the largest and fastest-growing networks of independent dental care providers in the U.S., local Aspen Dental practices – more than 500 of them across 33 states – offer patients a safe, welcoming and judgment-free environment to address their dental challenges. Every Aspen Dental-branded practice offers a full range of dental and denture services – including comprehensive exams, cleanings, extractions, fillings, periodontal treatment, whitening, oral surgery, crown and bridge work – allowing patients to have the peace of mind that they are taken care of and protected, so they can focus on getting the healthy mouths they deserve. In 2015, Aspen Dental-branded practices recorded more than 3.7 million patient visits and welcomed nearly 785,000 new patients.
About Aspen Dental Management Inc.
Aspen Dental Management Inc. (ADMI) is a dental support organization that provides non-clinical business support services to independently owned and operated dental practices in approximately 30 states. This can include services and recommendations related to finding the right location, leasing, IT services, accounting and marketing. This model leaves independent, licensed practitioners free to concentrate on patient care.
To learn more about Aspen Dental-branded practices and services, preview the patient experience, get answers to general treatment questions, find a location, and schedule appointments, visit www.aspendental.com. To learn more about careers at ADMI and Aspen Dental practices, visit http://aspendentaljobs.com.
About Got Your 6
Got Your 6 is a collective impact campaign that works to bridge the military-civilian divide. Combining the reach and resources of the entertainment industry with the expertise and commitment from veteran-focused non-profit and government partners, the campaign works to advance the conversation in America so veterans and their families are seen as leaders and civic assets who will invigorate our communities. In 2013 and 2014, Got Your 6 distributed grants totaling over $4 million to their veteran-focused non-profit partners. For more information, visit www.gotyour6.org. Be the Change, Inc., an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is the organizing body and fiscal sponsor of Got Your 6.
About Stewart-Haas Racing
Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team co-owned by three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The team fields four entries in the elite Sprint Cup Series – the No. 14 Chevrolet for Stewart, the No. 10 Chevrolet for Danica Patrick, the No. 4 Chevrolet for Kevin Harvick and the No. 41 Chevrolet for Kurt Busch. Based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, Stewart-Haas Racing operates out of a 200,000-square-foot facility with approximately 280 employees. For more information, please visit us on the Web at www.StewartHaasRacing.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/StewartHaasRacing, on Twitter @StewartHaasRcngand on Instagram @StewartHaasRacing.
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SOURCE Aspen Dental
