Brighter Way strives to improve access to preventive and restorative services for Veteran patients and establish a permanent Dental Home for Veterans of all ages. Customized interventions range from preventive services to full mouth (all-on-four) reconstruction, that will help each Veteran achieve optimum oral health. The process starts with Veterans visiting our dental center as walk-ins, through referrals as well as through the Brighter Way/United Healthcare Tooth Bus visiting homeless encampments. Oral health assessments and emergency treatment for pain and infection control is conducted at remote homeless sites. Referral appointments for follow-up treatment and more complex care are then scheduled at the BWI Downtown Dental Center, an independent nonprofit program with implant and education components for adults. The program is managed by Dr. Michael Rosen, a Diplomat of the American Board of Oral Implantology. All treatment is performed by fully certified oral health professionals including implant specialists, Prosthodontists, Radiologists, Dental Assistants, and Dental Hygienists. BWI provides uncompensated dental care to an estimated 451 Veterans each year. The annual uncompensated cost for general dentistry for Veterans is $111,888. The annual uncompensated cost for implant dentistry is $122,915. In total, our 25th Anniversary goal is to raise a total of $469,606 to cover two years of uncompensated oral health expenses for Veterans who have limited or no AHHCCCS Medicaid coverage, limited access to Veterans Administration coverage and limited emergency dental benefit coverage. All support is appreciated and applied directly to oral health care.
