PORTLAND, Ore. -- Veterans in Portland are getting some free dental care, thanks to a giant roaming dentist office on wheels.
The Aspen Dental Mouth Mobile is at Pioneer Courthouse Square until 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Don Humphers served in the Navy, and hasn’t had his teeth cleaned in about a decade. That’s about to change.
He’s one of many veterans getting help, thanks to the Aspen Dental Mouth Mobile: a 42-foot-long bus that travels the county. It has been making the journey to cities since 2014, and appointments are made in advance, arranged though nonprofit partners.
The staff are also volunteers, and doctors say the need is great.
“There are millions of veterans in the county who are not able to take care of their basic pain,” said Dr. Kala Sagar. “If we can get rid of an infected tooth or a broken tooth, which will prevent them from sleep or a good night’s sleep that the most important and necessary right now."
Along with a clean mouth, veterans also get to meet Tom, one of the therapy dogs on site, thanks to Pet Partners, proving a pain-free mouth, and a little pat on the back go a long way to make you feel a lot better.
“Being able to have dental care when it’s available is a big deal,” said Humphers. “It’s expensive if you try to pay for it yourself, for people who don’t have the access to it, it’s really a godsend, it really is.”