AURORA —Veterans can get free dental work at the new CU Heroes Clinic in Aurora while they’re working toward their degree at the University of Colorado Denver or the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
was created through a partnership with nonprofit Delta Dental Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. Delta gave the school $1 million, and the clinic opened inside the dental school on Aug. 25.
“We have thousands of veterans returning to Colorado after serving their country, and we started wondering what kind of dental access these folks have,” said Barbara Springer, vice president of administration at Delta Dental of Colorado. “What we found out was shocking — they really don’t have access to dental health services at all. There’s only a really tiny fraction of veterans who can get dental care through the VA Hospital.”
The clinic is completely pro bono. Student veterans who need anything from a basic cleaning to a root canal are treated by fourth-year students at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. The dental students are supervised by their professors, and they see their patients in the school’s practicum clinic during scheduled slots in the week.
Since the clinic opened two months ago, about 85 CU student veterans have received thousands of dollars in free dental care. Springer said the $1 million is projected to keep the clinic open for at least five years.
Heidi Tyrrell, manager of the CU Heroes Clinic, said there are approximately 1,000 eligible student veterans — ranging in age from 20 to 60 — between the two campuses.
“You cannot imagine how appreciative these veteran students are, and how much they can’t believe it,” Tyrrell said. “They initially thought that we’d get them in for free and bill them later.”
Hope Arhelger, 33, is a doctorate student at the University of Colorado’s College of Nursing, and she’s also a U.S. Air Force veteran who served tours in Iraq in 2006 and 2008. When she was discharged after her last six-month stint, she did not have dental coverage.
On Nov. 6, Arhelger was lying in one of the Heroes Clinic chairs under the bright lights, getting her jaw and teeth meticulously measured for a new night guard, which is like a retainer that she wears to prevent her from damaging her teeth while she unconsciously grinds them together. Tyrrell said that’s a common problem with the patients of the Heroes Clinic who may have post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I’ve had long history of (grinding), though, since way before the military,” Arhelger said. “This is my third visit … and they’ve pretty much got everything done in a relatively short amount of time. It’s been a great experience.”
Arhelger, who lives in Aurora, said she has two more years left on her doctorate, and she intends to get regular exams and cleanings until she graduates.
The CU Heroes Clinic is just one of the five clinical services offered by the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. The other clinics see patients from all over the state who are underserved, uninsured and on Medicaid.
On average, there are 80,000 patient visits to the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine clinics every year.
Since the Heroes Clinic opened, the school of dental medicine has adjusted curriculum standards, making participation in the clinic mandatory for all senior students. There are 80 seniors in the 2015 class, and they rotate in the clinic every week.
“It’s great for the dental students as well as the veteran students, because they’re getting this much-needed care, and (the dental students) are getting some of their required experience,” Tyrrell said. “It’s helpful, gratifying work.”
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-2650, mmitchell@denverpost.com or twitter.com/Mmitchelldp
Cu heroes clinic.
Call 303-724-2VET to learn more and schedule your appointment.
