FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—October 7, 2024
For Statewide Release

Free Dental Care Available for Eligible Veterans Nov. 1

Delta Dental of Arkansas to provide leadership, major financial support for Operation Stand Down

LITTLE ROCK, ARK—Arkansas veterans may be eligible to receive free dental care on Nov. 1 during the 3^rd annual Operation Stand Down.   

Dentists at seven participating dental clinics across the state will volunteer their time and expertise to provide acute/urgent pain relief, oral exams, X-rays, extractions, routine maintenance and more. Locations include Arkadelphia, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Mountain View and Pine Bluff.

To schedule an appointment for dental care, veterans must contact their county’s Veterans Service Office or Gina Chandler at the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs by emailing gina.chandler@arkansas.gov. Proof of discharge papers, a DD214, will be required for verification purposes.

They will be assigned a specific appointment time at the regional site clinic nearest to their location. Appointments will be made on a first-come, first-serve basis. Priority will be given to acute or urgent treatments. No walk-ins will be accepted on the day of Operation Stand Down.

Now in its third year in Arkansas, Operation Stand Down is hosted by Region 12 of the International College of Dentists (ICD) in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs. Two Delta Dental of Arkansas executives and several current or former corporate board members are among the estimated 50 dentists from across the state who have volunteered to plan the event, treat patients or provide clinic support.

The Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation serves as the project’s major financial sponsor with a grant for dental supplies to be shared among the participating dental practices. Additional sponsors include Patterson Dental Little Rock and ArcBest of Fort Smith.

Operation Stand Down was launched in 2012 by an Indiana dentist and Air Force veteran who sought a scalable solution to the neglected oral health he observed among his ex-military patients. Since then, the event has expanded to multiple states. Volunteer dentists provide free dental care to eligible veterans on a designated day, typically on or around Veterans Day.

About Delta Dental of Arkansas

Delta Dental of Arkansas is the largest dental benefits provider in the state, helping more than 800,000 Arkansans keep their smiles healthy through commercial and Medicaid coverage. As a not-for-profit company, Delta Dental is committed to improving the oral health of Arkansans through the philanthropic efforts of its Foundation, which donated almost $4 million to support oral health treatment and education initiatives in the last three years. For more information, visit https://www.deltadentalar.com/.

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Media Contact:
Claudia Utley
Senior Public Relations Manager
(c) 501-442-6951
cutley@deltadentalar.com
www.deltadentalar.com