A man receives dental care during a visit to the SmileCare Everywhere Mobile Dental Clinic in Beaverton, Ore., April 1, 2021.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Veterans who don’t qualify for the Oregon Health Plan can start applying for a state-funded dental program that started Nov. 1.
The “Veteran Dental Program” is a first in the state and is meant to bridge a gap in veterans’ access to oral health care. The dental benefits are separate and distinct from those offered by the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs.
Eligible applicants must meet the definition of a veteran as defined by Oregon statutes — except they may still qualify if discharged under honorable or other conditions. Qualifying vets must also be at or below four times the federal poverty level.
The Veteran Dental Program is administered by the Oregon Health Authority. Those who qualify will begin receiving dental care such as cleanings, fillings and extractions, starting Jan. 1, 2023. To apply, veterans can visit one.oregon.gov to login or create an account or have an application mailed by calling OHP Customer Service at 1-800-699-9075. Those who need help filling out an application can get it through a network of local certified community partners statewide. You can find a community partner at bit.ly/ohplocalhelp
The Veteran Dental Program was created when Oregon House Bill 4095 passed in the 2022 Legislative Session.
For more information, visit: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/OHP/Pages/Dental-Programs.aspx.