AYUDA SMILES, INC SMILES FOR VETERANS

To advocate for our Veterans, in need, by facilitating access and payment for critical dental care through partnerships with dental providers throughout Arizona.

Ayuda Smiles, Inc. dba Smiles For Veterans was formed with the mission of providing services to the underserved populations of Southern Arizona. It became clear in our first year of existence that one significantly underserved population was retired, discharged or disabled Veterans in need of essential dental care as they were unable to obtain such services through other government programs or agencies. To meet this need, the Smiles For Veterans Program was started and began to partner with local dentists and dental labs to obtain dental services and prosthetics (dentures, implants, etc.) at a reduced rate, cost or for free. Most of our applicants are homeless or below poverty level and part of our screening mandates that the applicant not have resources to obtain essential dental care without our assistance.
The program has been financed through the generosity of our Donors and Dental Providers. Ayuda has partnered with several American Legion and VFW Posts as well as Tucson Veterans Serving Veterans (another local non-profit organization - TVSV) and the Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council (JAVC) to have additional funding for providing dental care. Ayuda is responsible for organizing, coordinating and facilitating the dental care for qualified Veterans which includes determining a Veteran's eligibility, obtaining a proposed dental plan, and coordinating care.
To date, The program has facilitated over $300,000.00 worth of dental care at a cost just under $85,000.00. So far, 267 Veterans have been accepted into the program and 190 have received care. The waiting list currently has 77 Veterans, with applications coming in at an average of 4-5 per week.

Testimonials

Cliff
A Veteran of the Navy and the Coast Guard, Cliff was exposed to Agent Orange. After going through chemotherapy to beat cancer, he lost his teeth. He was not eligible for dental care through the Veterans Administration or any other state agency. While saving to afford dentures, he lost weight and his health deteriorated in other ways. Ayuda's Smiles for Veterans program was able to obtain dental services through the generosity of a local dentist who donated his services free. We lost Cliff not long ago but he was able to eat his favorite foods, steak and cashews for the last 2 years of his life. And we got to see him smile.

Thomas
Thomas was part of the military's nuclear testing team in Nevada. Currently a resident of the Arizona State Veterans Home, he needed dentures. His minimal remaining teeth made it difficult for him to eat and he was ashamed of how he looked. His goal was to be able to attend a reunion of Navy Nuclear Weapons Association. Ayuda's Smiles for Veterans program received a donation of dentures for him from a local dental lab.

Janelle
After returning from active duty, Janelle became a government contractor here in Tucson. Last year, she lost her job and subsequently lost her home and ended up living in her car. She needed dental work done, not only for the obvious health reasons but to give her the confidence she needed to rejoin society. Ayuda's Smiles for Veterans program arranged and paid for the needed dental work. After it was completed we received her call telling us how wonderfully the dental clinic had treated her. She then told us that she was going to continue her regular dental care with the dentist and pay for it herself because she got a job.

Larry
Larry was career Air Force and retired with disability. His Military pension and Social Security total only $1000 a month leaving very little to save towards dental care. Ayuda's Smiles for Veterans program has been able to negotiate reduced costs for his needed dental care.

Mark
A former Staff Sergeant, a disabled Veteran who served in the Air Force Security Forces from 1973 to 1990, says he was fortunate to hear about the Smiles for Veterans Program. Mark says, "This program helped me regain my dignity".