A Wyoming dental association hosted an event to provide free dental care to veterans in need.
The Wyoming Dental Association South Central District hosted its inaugural Saluting Smiles: Donated Dental Care for Veterans, a multi-community effort that brought together 11 dental offices across Laramie, Cheyenne and Torrington to provide no-cost dental care to veterans.
More than 100 veterans were able to receive critical dental services valued at more than $67,800, receiving a wide range of care from routine cleanings and diagnostic imaging to restorative treatments and emergency services.
For many veterans, the care provided went beyond oral health, according to Sandy McFarland, deputy director of the Wyoming Veterans Commission.
The scope of care included comprehensive exams, radiographs, cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings, crowns, extractions, denture adjustments and other specialized procedures.
“Each appointment represented time donated, expertise shared and a tangible commitment to honoring service with service,” said McFarland.
Henry Schein Cares and Colgate provided oral hygiene supplies and materials, ensuring veterans left with the tools they needed to maintain their health beyond the appointment.
Organizers emphasized that this first year was only the beginning.
“As veteran needs continue long after military service ends, initiatives like Saluting Smiles demonstrate how local communities can close critical gaps in care,” McFarland said. Not with ceremonies alone, but with sustained action.”