Discounted dental care for veterans featured on NEWS CENTER Maine

In Honor of Veterans Day, the University of New England’s Dental Hygiene Clinic in Portland is offering veterans discounted teeth cleanings for $15, along with free dental exams and fluoride varnish.

Twenty appointments are available on a first call, first served basis until December 4, 2020.

NEW CENTER Maine recently featured the program during several of its newscasts.

"We really want to increase the access to dental care for our veterans,” Rachael Salamon, RDH, M.S.D.H., assistant clinical professor of Dental Hygiene, told NEWS CENTER Maine.

Navy veteran David Barber, an advocate for those who served in the military, says many veterans often struggle to receive the dental care they need. 

"There are many veterans like myself that cannot afford dental insurance or have to pay out of pocket," he explained.

Barber says that veterans often do not have dental insurance coverage through VA benefits.

UNE student Scott Roberts (Dental Hygiene, ’21) told NEWS CENTER Maine it is an honor to provide care to veterans.

"Veterans give so much back to us,” he said. “It is important that we are there for them and can provide routine dental care."

Besides the discounted cleaning, the clinic is also offering veterans 50% off all other services.

This is the second year UNE’s Dental Hygiene Clinic has offered the program.