Dr. Garg
Inspired by the interaction with a patient who had served in the Vietnam War, Nisha Garg, a dental student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, began working to help address the oral health care barriers facing veterans today, according to ADA News.
As part of her Schweitzer Fellows project, Ms. Garg organized a Veterans’ Screening Day, held Jan. 16 at UIC. Ms. Garg initially expected only up to 30 participants. By the day’s end, more than 70 veterans had come to receive free initial screening and assessment.
“The more I learned about how many veterans are not able to receive access to dental care, the more I began to realize the depth of the problem,” she said.
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, veterans have to meet certain eligibility factors to receive dental care, such as service-related dental disability or condition, or if they are a former prisoner of war. In addition, some veterans who qualify for dental benefits still don’t receive the care they need because of the distance to their nearest VA hospital.
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I am also aOrthodontist in India nd hance can understand your problems and emotions towards the peoplw. you are really doing a great job. Best of luck.
I am a veteran and I do not get dental, the majority of us do not I have many veteran friends and I do not know a single one that qualifies for VA dental. I have had to use UIC they are currently in the process of helping me get all my teeth back up to good health as after 5 years out of the military I have had no dental insurance and the prices at UIC have saved me without it I do not know how I would have afforded the care I have received and I would still be in serious pain. It’s unfortunate as the only reason I am able to be seen at UIC for further care is because I had to come in for an emergency appointment for the pain. UIC owes us nothing do not get me wrong I am very grateful but I know many other veterans who are having to go without dental care, many I wish I could tell to call UIC but if they do not have serious pain or in need of emergency dental care there is no way to be seen there. UIC has a massive influx of patients many of us there because of the affordability, I am in no way bad mouthing UIC I think the services they provide letting dental students get experience while giving the opportunity for dental to lower income people and UIC is doing all it can. This article is great as it literally describes my life experiences as a vet and UIC dental patient.