Aspen Dental and Got Your 6, a nonprofit that supports veterans, provided dental care to more than 4,000 veterans this year, according to Huffington Post.
Here are five things to know:
1. The total value of services totaled $2.8 million.
2. The organizations hope the care enables veterans to secure employment while preventing major health issues. Individuals who do not get routine cleanings and other procedures are at risk of getting periodontal disease, which increases their risk for stroke and heart disease.
3. Veterans have to be 100 percent disabled, have been a prisoner of war or have developed a dental condition during their service to qualify for full VA dental benefits.
4. Because veterans often do not have access to care, the homeless veteran population cited dental care as one of the population's top three unmet needs.
5. The VA offers veterans the opportunity to buy dental insurance through MetLife and Delta Dental at a reduced cost.
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