VIDEO: Providing Healthy Smiles For Veterans

TUPELO, Miss.(WCBI)—Nearly 450 Aspen Dental Practices across the nation, rolled out the red carpet for the men and women who have fought to protect our rights and freedoms.

It’s called the Healthy Mouths Movement.

“So, far we’ve had people who have been in service for 15 or kind of been in service for over 20 years,”said Aspen Dental Office Manager Carley Grigsby.

At 9 am Saturday morning Aspen Dental opened it’s doors to put a healthy smile on the faces of veterans.

“About 2012 we decided this is something that we need to give back,” Grigsby.

Joby Collins is the main Clinical Director of the Tupelo office. He says the veterans do so much to protect us it’s only right to give them something to smile about.

“Many of us did not serve in the military. This is actually a way that we can reach out and try and help and show our appreciation over the years for the security and freedoms they preserve. Many of these veterans don’t have the means. I think that this is one way that we can reach out and give the effort to give them a healthy smile,”Clinical Director Joby Collins.

Studies show more than 1.2 million veterans lack health insurance. Aspen Dental Office Manager Carley Grigsby says there was plenty of help lined up to pick up the tabb.

” You’ve got a bunch of people who have rallied together. There are organizations that kind of help with this as well. At this point right now we’ve been able to give back seven point five million dollars to veterans. That’s free dental care for all the veterans. We’ve been doing this for five to six years now and we’ve just seen out turn,”said Grigsby.

The Tupelo office is the second Aspen office to come to the state. Grigsby says this day would not be possible without help from all Aspen team members.

” I just really am thankful for my staff.My staff is volunteering their time for this special event and in return we’ve had an outcome patients are coming in happy there leaving happy and also we’re able to after today’s visit we’re able to get them in for a new patient exam and that’s free of cost, able to do a fee mouth exam and allow time to sit down with Dr. Joby Collins,” said Grigsby.

There were 18 veterans scheduled for cleanings at the Tupelo office. Grigsby says she hope the even continues to grow.

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