American Academy of Implant Dentistry Logo

For Patients

Smile Vet logo

The AAIDF Smile, Veteran!™ Program is a dedicated initiative aimed at providing essential dental care to U.S. Veterans. We understand the importance of dental health and are committed to making a difference in the lives of those who have served our country. However, due to limited resources, we can only assist a small number of Veterans each year.

In 2025, we received an overwhelming response with over 550 inquiries. Unfortunately, this means we were only able to help about 1% of patients interested in the program. We recognize the high demand and the critical need for dental care among Veterans, and we are working diligently to expand our resources and capacity.

We encourage all eligible Veterans to apply to the program. However, we want to set realistic expectations and inform you that spots are extremely limited - we can only assist 4 to 6 Veterans per year. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we strive to grow and enhance our support for more Veterans in the future.

Application

The application process for the AAIDF Smile, Veteran!™ Program must be initiated by an AAIDF  Participating Doctor, not by the Veteran patient. This means that Veterans interested in the program should first consult with a participating doctor who is credentialed by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and participating in the Smile, Veteran!™ Program.

Potential patients can use the "Find an Implant Dentist in Your Area" tool to locate AAID-credentialed dentists in your area. Participating dentists are indicated in the AAID Find an Implant Dentist search. Look for the Smile, Veteran!™ logo next to the Doctor's name.

After finding a Participating Doctor, the next step is for the dentist to see the patient and agree to sponsor them in the Smile, Veteran!™ Program. During this step, the dentist will evaluate the patient's dental needs and determine if they are a suitable candidate for the program. If the dentist agrees to sponsor the patient, the dentist will then proceed with the necessary paperwork and documentation to formally submit the application. It's important to note that program participation is limited due to the high demand and limited resources.

The AAIDF Smile, Veteran!™ Program is for US Veterans only who have been honorably or generally discharged and does not accept other types of patients.

Resources for the Smile, Veteran!™ Program

Click to access the following downloadable resources.

AAIDF Veteran Application Steps to Completion

Find An AAID-Credentialed Dentist Near Me

Other Dental Charities

We understand the urgency of timely dental care and encourage other dental patients to explore alternative charities that may offer the services they need.   Here are a few to consider:  

We encourage you to reach out to these organizations to see if you qualify for their services. Each charity has its own eligibility criteria and application process, so it's worth exploring multiple options to find the best fit for your needs.