I am a USAF veteran. SSGT AFCS 27270 1968-1975. I am currently enrolled in the VA Health Care System. Am I eligible for Dental care? Are all Veterans who are enrolled in the VA Health Care System eligible for dental care?

Posted on Nov 16, 2021

I am a USAF veteran. SSGT AFCS 27270 1968-1975. I am currently enrolled in the VA Health Care System. Am I eligible for Dental care?

SSgt Ed Harmon

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Are all Veterans who are enrolled in the VA Health Care System eligible for dental care?

Posted in these groups: Healthheart

Health

Veterans Affairs (VA)

Posted 3 y ago

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Responses: 4

Cpl Vic Burk

Posted 3 y ago

What gets me on this is that the V.A. itself says that good dental hygiene if important for good health but they don't provide it for anyone except 100% disabled vets. Wouldn't the VA come out ahead in the long run if they provided the dental service and not have to take care of as many vets with other issues because they didn't have dental as needed?
Everyone on here needs to write their representatives and tell them the VA should provide dental services. I did a couple weeks ago.
Sgt (Join to see) SGT Randal Groover SGT (Join to see) SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SGT Charlie Lee Cpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr CPL Douglas Chrysler SPC Michael Terrell SPC Nancy Greene GySgt Thomas Vick GySgt Gary Cordeiro GySgt Jack Wallace PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Mark Huddleston MGySgt (Join to see) SGT Mary G. SPC Woody Bullard SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt Marian Mitchell SPC Margaret Higgins

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SGT (Join to see)

3 y

Even for those 100%/service connected won't get you decent dental care

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SPC Michael Terrell

3 y

SGT (Join to see) - I went to the vA about 15 years ago. I had a tooth with a hole from the top, all the way through to the bottom. I slipped an 1/8" drill bit over a quarter inch into the hole. Te told me to get lost. Then I went across the street to Shands hospital. They taught dentistry, but they played games with potential patients. You had to be there wen it opened, then they drew numbers to see who would be treated. I could only get there on the DAV shuttle, and I could only ride that, if I had a set appointment.

I was being treated for dental problems when I was discharged, but guess what? No medical records could be located for my time in service. I had to file for non service connected disability, because of this, and the health issues caused by infected teeth.

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SPC Michael Terrell

3 y

SGT Charlie Lee - I was never given any documentation for medical while on active duty. Supposedly, some of the lost records were water damaged, but recovered. It was a long slow process and I don't know if they ever finished.

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Cpl Vic Burk

3 y

SGT Charlie Lee - I used to go to the East Tennessee State University dental hygienist clinic for my cleanings but they don't do anything else. I need other work but damn is it expensive. WOW.

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SPC (Join to see)

Posted 3 y ago

I know from experience from working as a Dental Specialist at a few Dental clinics during my Active Duty years, that most Dental Clinics on Military bases do not see Veterans. Only Active Duty or NG/ Reserves on Active Duty Status for at least 30 days or more may be seen in those clinics. Family members of those listed above may be seen as well. To get a more accurate answer though I would suggest verifying with your VA reps or even calling a few military dental clinics. Some clinics are different from each other and have their own set rules and regulations that they have to follow.

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