On Veterans Day, The East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine provided 30 veterans with free oral health care through the Smiles for Veterans program. This is the second year the event has been held at Ross Hall, with students, residents, faculty and staff providing more than $13,000 in oral health care including exams, extractions, cleanings, oral surgeries, root canals and even a complete crown.
The Smiles for Veterans program is donor-funded and allows the dental school to provide free oral health care to veterans across North Carolina.There are events held throughout the year at all eight of the school’s community service learning centers (CSLC). Since the initiative began in 2018, it has provided close to a quarter million dollars worth of care for more than 500 veterans. The program began in partnership with the Veteran Smiles Foundation and local veterans’ organizations and has expanded to be sponsored by other supporters and groups over the years.