I'm in pain everday with dental issues. How or where can I receive help? I need upper partial dentures bad.

I'm an Honorably Discharged Veteran, Viet Era, USAF. I don't have any disability percentage, but I have medical conditions since my service which can be described as disabilitating. I'm a Diabetic, have High Colesterol, High Blood Pressure and (2) Herniated Discs. plus, flat feet. My problems were hurting me such that I was released from military service early, after repetitive visits to the infirmary for help. I was released thinking I would be assisted with disability after release, but to this day have received none (1972 to present). Today, I also have excessive dental problems causing me continuous pains and agony, but the VA will not assist me, nor point me somewhere to get assistance.I'm presently unemployed, though receiving unemployment compensation

I'm in pain everday with dental issues. How or where can I receive help? I need upper partial dentures bad.
Most Va's have a veteran's representative who is there to assist you in applying for disability. They do not give it to you automatically. If you were in Viet Nam and now are diagnosed with type II diabetes, you automatically qualify for service connected disability. If you cannot get any assistance from the Vet Rep at the VA, almost any VFW or DAV organization can help you apply or you can apply online at http://www.va.gov/ good luck!!!
Reply:Contact your local or state dental association and and see if there are any dentists who provide free or reduced cost care for low-income, disabled or senior patients.





Call your local health department and ask about health centers that provide dental care for free or on a sliding scale.





Your local United Way may also be aware of such a clinic. In some areas, you can reach them now by dialing 2-1-1 for "non-emergency information."





Go to a dental school, if there is one near you, for reduced costs.





If you are a senior citizen, call your local Area Agency on Aging or Office on Aging. If you can not find a listing in your local phone book on the "County Government" pages (usually marked with blue borders), call toll-free 1-800-677-1116 to find how to contact the Area Agency on Aging serving you.





Check http://www.toothwoman.net to see if low-cost or free dental services are available near you.





Check http://bphc.hrsa.gov and choose "Find a Health Center" to see if there is a low-cost clinic near you.





Check http://www.nfdh.org/DDS.html to see if your state has a "Donated Dental Services" program. D.D.S. is designed to locate dentists who will give free care to patients who are financially compromised due to medical problems. This is a process that will take a couple of months to get your information and then arrange for someone to see you. Not all states have D.D.S. programs.





I personally offer free care or reduced fee care or "overlook the bill" care when I know the exact circumstances of a person's financial position. If they have had a medical hardship, for instance, I am sympathetic. You can't come in just looking for free care, though. You have to come in with the intentions of doing the best you can and then I decide exactly how I am going to handle the financial aspect. I can usually tell who is actually trying to pay and who simply wants to skip out on me. I do not usually consider smokers to be in financial need, though. If they can find a couple thousand dollars a year for cigarettes, they could find the same amount of money and fix almost any dental problem. Maybe you can find a local dentist who has the same attitude.