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Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens, Page 9
      Bringing Smiles To Wounded Veterans



      WVRF’s Dental Program



      By Chrystal D. Rambarath                             During an emergency dental examination made possible   When they return home, and in their time of need, it is our
        Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and oral cancer: What do   by WVRF, it was detected that one of their veterans was   turn to support them. We hope that you are moved by the
      these afflictions have in common? According to the Center   suffering from oral cancer. That timely examination caught   tribulations that confront them. If you are able, we call upon
      for Disease Control, these and other chronic conditions can   an oral cancer that could have been fatal. This startling   your generosity to expand the critical services that the dental
      be linked to poor oral health. While in some cases, it is yet   realization and the discovery of just how few veterans can   program offers. You may donate your time, skills, or supplies,
      to be determined if poor oral health causes these conditions,   access dental care prompted WVRF to do something. With   attend an event, become an advocate, or simply spread news
      it is undeniable that many illnesses can be detected during   support of their board of directors and the partnership of   of this essential endeavor among your family, friends, and
      routine dental checkups. Encouragingly, good oral hygiene and   one local dentist, WVRF began to bridge this gap in health   networks. To get involved or find out more, please call
      treatment can reduce heart attacks by 35 percent. Though that is   care for veterans. The lives of at least two veterans were   (561) 855-4207, visit www.wvrf.org, find us at the Wounded
      good news for Americans who have dental insurance and those   saved by early diagnoses during a dental examination.  Veterans Relief Fund on Facebook and LinkedIn, or follow
      that adhere to their biannual checkups, there is a segment of our     In addition to overall physical health, poor oral health   us at WVReliefFund on Twitter and Instagram. As former
      population for whom this basic care is out of reach.  is also a contributing factor to mental health illnesses.   President Calvin Coolidge once said, “The nation which
        Our veterans face danger of all sorts: enemy fire,   Veterans have shared that they stopped smiling and   forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.”
      biological and chemical threats, and more. But upon their   experienced poor self-esteem, shame, depression, and
      return home, they also face new dangers – threats that make   job rejections because of the aesthetics and state of their
      their transition to civilian life difficult. One silent, almost   mouths. Gum disease, chronic bad breath, tooth decay, and
      undetectable threat can be found in their mouths. As many   mouth sores result in loss of confidence among veterans
      as 92 percent of veterans served by the Veteran’s Affairs   as well. These conditions also jeopardize veterans’ ability
      system are ineligible for dental care benefits. Only honorably   to secure a stable job, a critical aspect of their transition
      discharged veterans with a 100 percent service-connected   to civilian life. With little financial safety nets, a job keeps
      disability qualify for dental care through the VA. Thankfully,   veterans and their families with roofs over their heads. With
      nonprofits often fill the gaps left unserved by the government   the increased demand among veterans for mental health
      and the private sector.                            care, it is imperative that access to dental care be expanded.
        The Wounded Veterans Relief Fund (WVRF), established     In 2020, WVRF launched their fledgling dental program.
      in 2009, was created to support Florida’s disabled veterans   It was piloted in Palm Beach County and offers emergency
      by relieving the financial strains that prevent their transition   dental assistance to qualified veterans. These veterans must
      to civilian life. They provide temporary emergency financial   have a 10 percent or more service-connected disability
      assistance to qualified disabled veterans. The impact of   rating or have an active pending claim, be a Florida
      WVRF’s work is tremendous, considering that Florida is   resident currently residing in Florida, have been honorably
      home to the third largest population of veterans in the United   discharged from the military, and need emergency dental
      States – more than 1.5 million people. The nonprofit supports   care. It is the WVRF’s intention that the dental program
      veterans who served in World War II through present day   will be expanded, with a location for dental services in
      conflicts. To date, over 10,000 veterans and their families   each of Florida’s 67 counties. In the interim, the nonprofit
      have received more than $5 million in direct financial   has the support of at least 10 local dentists who are ready
      assistance. WVRF’s intervention and work literally keeps   to donate their services.
      veteran families from becoming homeless. Beyond this     Whatever their reasons for serving, veterans are bound
      support, WVRF is also a major advocate of veterans and   by a profound sense of duty and uphold the defense of
      an ally as they confront obstacles before them. Their most   American values. They willingly risk their lives and make
      recent challenge has been to expand dental care access for   great  sacrifices  so  that  their  fellow  citizens  can  enjoy
      veterans and the launch of their dental program.   freedom, liberty, and all rights that our citizenship allows.


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