Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.
There are a lot of things on people's minds these days. One of those things is health care in general, but let's talk about oral health care in particular today. We know that that is so important, so key to our ability to do many important things.
It's important to eating, and drinking, and talking. Anybody who's had persistent dental issues knows that pain and discomfort can really affect your self-esteem, your ability to work or go to school, to study, and just your overall health and well-being.
But despite how important dental care is, many people still don't have access to affordable dental care. That includes some of our veterans. I've heard many stories. One Maine veteran had been wearing the same set of dentures since 1973, and they were completely worn out. Another Maine veteran was in severe pain from an abscessed tooth but just couldn't afford to go to the dentist.
As someone who grew up in a military family, I want to make sure that those who served us in uniform have access to health care they need -- the health care they deserve. So that's why in 2021, my administration launched the Maine Veterans Dental Network. We did this in partnership with Northeast Delta Dental and other dental and medical clinics around the state to provide dental services to Maine veterans who could not otherwise afford them.
In three years -- 2022, 2023, 2024 -- Northeast Delta Dental extended the program with grants, $600,000 in total. And then the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation also became a generous supporter, contributing more than $37,000 in grants over the last couple of years.
I'm proud that thanks to all those organizations and the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, our Veterans Dental Network has provided dental care for nearly 1,500 veterans, including the two I just mentioned, as well as many other veterans who were able to see a dentist or dental hygienist for the first time since they left military service.
One Vietnam War veteran told our staff that the care he received "went above and beyond expectations," and that he "never would have been able to afford the services they provided without the grant."
This year, thanks to another generous $300,000 grant from Northeast Delta Dental, the Maine Veterans Dental Network will keep providing services for veterans in need. This new funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis for any Maine resident who is a veteran and who lacks dental insurance and can't afford to pay for dental care out of pocket.
The Veterans Dental Network has 23 different locations from Portland to Patten, places where veterans can get care. You may apply online by visiting maine.gov/governor/mills/veteransdental. That's maine.gov/governor/mills/veteransdental.
If you don't have access to the internet or if you know someone -- a veteran -- who doesn't have access to the internet, please call 207-287-6836. That's 287-6836, during normal business hours.
We're committed to making sure that every person in Maine can access health care services they need, and oral health care in particular. If you're a veteran, please visit our website or call that number to see if you're eligible for services through the Veterans Dental Network.
And I want to thank Northeast Delta Dental and the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services and the many participating clinics across the state who keep making this nationally recognized program possible. It's catching on across the country. And I thank again all Maine veterans for their service on behalf of our state and on behalf of our nation.
This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.