Give Vets a Smile delivers care to record 110 veterans

Kevin Chan, a fourth-year dental student, provides care to a veteran during the 12th annual Give Vets a Smile event on Nov. 6 at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. (Photo by UTHealth Houston)

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry provided more than $80,000 in free dental care to a record 110 local veterans during the 12th annual Give Vets a Smile event on Nov. 6.

During the daylong outreach event, providers delivered procedures addressing urgent, palliative, therapeutic, and preventive oral health needs. Services included teeth cleanings, restorations, extractions, and limited root canal treatments.

“Providing quality oral health care to those who have served our country is one meaningful way we can give back,” said Renato M. Silva, DDS, MS, PhD, dean of UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. “Give Vets a Smile brings our school community together in a shared commitment to supporting veterans while preparing future dental professionals to recognize that our responsibility extends beyond the clinic and into the communities we serve.”

Dental and dental hygiene students from the Class of 2027—along with faculty, staff, and residents from the Advanced Education in General Dentistry, General Practice Residency, Advanced Education in Endodontics, Advanced Education in Orthodontics, and Advanced Education in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery programs—provided care throughout the event.

Patients first received diagnostic assessments and X-rays before being triaged and assigned to residents, dental students, or dental hygiene students based on their individual needs.

Serving those who served

For many veterans, Give Vets a Smile provides an opportunity to receive dental care that might otherwise be difficult to access. Beyond addressing immediate clinical needs, the event connects patients with providers and helps establish a path toward continued oral health care.

Maria Parra, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served four years, attended the event for the first time through Galveston County. She said the cost of dental care can make it difficult for veterans to address their oral health needs.

“Getting dental care can be very expensive, so being able to come here and have my teeth looked at is important for my health. It means a lot to be here,” Parra said. “It’s one thing to be dealing with whatever disabilities you have. It’s another thing to also have dental issues and not be able to address them because of the cost.”

Parra also appreciated the opportunity to spend time with other veterans, describing the camaraderie as a reminder of the bonds formed through military service.

“When you're with people who served, it's like feeling a family,” she said.

For Capt. Alix K. Schneider, DDS, MS, an active-duty U.S. Army dentist and Advanced Education in Endodontics resident at the School of Dentistry, participating in Give Vets a Smile offers an opportunity to continue caring for service members and veterans beyond the military’s dental readiness requirements.

“As a military dentist, I spent my days making sure service members were dental-ready. A toothache or infection can keep someone from deploying, so the military takes oral health seriously. But once people leave the service, that care often stops. Many veterans go years without seeing a dentist because of cost, insurance gaps, or not knowing where to turn,” Schneider said. “Give Vets a Smile lets me keep caring for people after they take off the uniform. To me, it’s a way of saying, ‘We haven’t forgotten you.’”

Her military experience also shapes her approach to patient care, particularly when working with veterans who may have experienced challenges beyond their oral health.

“Serving in the U.S. Army has taught me that every patient in that chair has a story. Many veterans carry things you can’t see on a radiograph, including chronic pain, anxiety, or difficult past experiences with health care. Because I've worn the same uniform, there's an instant level of relatability, which can help build trust,” she said.

Participating in the event carries personal significance for U.S. Navy Ensign Sherilynne Moore, a dental student preparing to serve as a military dentist after graduation.

“Everyone deserves good oral health and to feel confident about their smile, especially those who have given so much in service to their country,” Moore said. “I want to give veterans the best care possible because I hope that, when my own military service is complete, I receive that same respect and care.”

Moore hopes veterans leave the event with healthier smiles and the reassurance that the dental community cares about their well-being.

Standing together

Veterans were referred to the event through a network of community organizations dedicated to supporting military veterans and their families. Participating organizations included Camp Hope, Camp Shield, the city of Houston’s Office of Veterans and Military Affairs, Combined Arms, Dress for Success, Easter Seals Greater Houston, Galveston County, Harris County Precinct 2 Veteran Services, Open Door Mission, and U.S.VETS Houston.

Each patient received a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, along with information about establishing a dental home at the School of Dentistry. Follow-up arrangements were made for patients requiring additional treatment, with referrals available across multiple specialties. Patients were also scheduled for six-month dental hygiene visits when appropriate.

A shared mission

Give Vets a Smile was organized by Raha K. Naderi, RDH, MEd, director of community outreach at the dental school, with support from a multidisciplinary team across the School of Dentistry.

The Office of Patient Care oversaw logistics through its Division of Patient Support Services and Division of Clinical and Educational Support Services. Staff from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry assisted with data entry and logistical support.

Radiology staff from Clinical Services supported diagnostic imaging, while dental assistants from the Fondren Foundation Special Patient Clinic and Urgent Care Clinic assisted with clinical operations. MiPACS by Apryse facilitated centralized imaging and coordination across clinical spaces.

Give Vets a Smile was supported by the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California and its affiliates, and Midwest Dental. Chick-fil-A and Jason’s Deli provided food and in-kind donations for participants and volunteers.