By Dental Lifeline Network from the Winter 2026 Journal of the Colorado Dental Association
Dental care access is an ongoing issue across the U.S., especially for our veterans and former service members whose benefits are limited to service-related incidents. Dental Lifeline Network’s (DLN) Donated Dental Services (DDS) program works to bridge this gap for patients like George. George, 70, is an Army and Air Force veteran who lives in Aurora with his wife. During his military service, George was exposed to many hazardous chemicals and was diagnosed with cancer later in life. He has undergone surgery, chemotherapy, cellular therapy and a stem cell transplant. His cancer treatment has been quite the journey; he has been in treatment for 17 years with various periods of remission and relapse. Unfortunately, George’s cancer treatment had a negative impact on his dental health. His teeth had become severely decayed, and nearly half of them had fallen out.
George desperately needed help regaining his dental health but could not afford treatment. He and his wife survive on his Social Security Disability Insurance and her wages from her job at Walmart. Their basic living expenses and George’s medical bills consume the majority of their income, leaving little left over for dental treatment.
Through the DDS program, a DLN case coordinator was able to connect George with Dr. Christopher Henes, a DDS volunteer and general dentist from Iliff Family Dental in Aurora. As part of a comprehensive treatment plan, Dr. Henes extracted George’s remaining teeth and donated complete maxillary and mandibular dentures, with the help of Peebles Prosthetics, a volunteer lab. Thanks to these caring volunteers, George received thousands of dollars in donated treatment that restored his dental health.
DLN has been providing donated dental care to individuals living with disabilities and those who are elderly or medically fragile and cannot afford or otherwise access treatment for more than 50 years. With a nationwide network of volunteer dentists and dental labs, the DDS program makes it easy and accessible for dental professionals to make an immediate impact on the lives of people in need in their communities.
“We’re so grateful to our network of volunteer providers. Recruiting and retaining volunteers remains our top priority here at Dental Lifeline Network so we can continue to help individuals in need in Colorado,” said Jaime Peca, DLN Program Director. “Our case coordinators work diligently to make sure that the dentists and dental offices providing treatment to our patients can navigate our care process with ease and efficiency. We’re excited to bring on even more Colorado volunteers in 2026!”
Nationwide, DLN has served more than 172,000 people and generated over $575 million in donated services since its inception in 1975. In Colorado alone, DLN has served more than 13,600 people and generated over $41.8 million in donated services since 1985.
“I can’t thank you enough for the kind consideration from you and the professional people who provided the dental services and dentures for me,” said George, following his treatment. “Thank you for all you do.”
More than 6,300 people nationwide applied for help through the DDS program from October 2024 through August 2025. As of September 2025, 5,480 applicants remain on the waitlist to be referred to volunteer dentists for treatment. While some patients may need specialty care, many necessary treatments can be performed in general dentistry practices.
To learn more about volunteering with DLN, visit www.WhyIDental.org and sign up today. If your schedule doesn’t allow for volunteerism, you can still make a difference — DLN has patient sponsorship opportunities for anyone looking to change a smile and change a life. Please reach out to Heidi Kortright at hkortright@dentallifeline.org or visit www.dentallifeline.org/give for more information.
