CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake VA Clinic partnered with Access Smiles to provide free dental exams and cleanings to Lake County Veterans on June 29 and 30.

Dental is not part of the basic medical package of veterans health care, and many veterans cannot afford to purchase dental insurance.

“Oral health is so much more than brushing your teeth twice a day,” said Amanda Celli, member services representative at the Clearlake VA Clinic. “It ties into physical, mental and emotional health as well.”

Access Smiles sponsored the Access Dental van out of the Sacramento area to provide these services free of charge.

The Access Dental van is equipped with two full service dental chairs and a wheel chair lift.

Jacob Kelly, DDS, and his staff provided exceptional services to each of the veteran patients who came into their van.

Each veteran received a “goody bag” with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash and a wide variety of oral health educational materials.

“We are grateful for the generosity of this group and look forward to partnering with the Access Smiles to bring this service back in the future,” Celli said.

Access Smiles is a collaborative partnership between Access Dental Plan, Access Dental Services, Access Dental and Blue Hills Dental centers of California.

The goal of this partnership to provide dental care and education to underserved communities.

Access Dental centers have served Northern California for more than 25 years, providing remarkable dental service and care.

To learn more about Access Dental, visit www.accessdental.com.

The next event providing a free dental van to veterans will be the Lake and Mendocino Stand Down at the Lake County Fairgrounds Sept. 27 to 28.

The dental van at the Stand Down has been sponsored by the Redbud Community Health Care District.