The Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation and HM Payson have once again partnered to generously donate $25,000 to support the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services – Maine Veterans’ Dental Network (MVDN). This funding will help provide access to oral healthcare for low-income veterans in Maine. Now in their third year of supporting the MVDN, this year’s grant is specifically earmarked to assist veterans in obtaining dentures.

Susan Scacchi, executive director of the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation, stated, “Helping veterans access the oral healthcare they need will substantially improve their quality of life. We, along with HM Payson, are proud to partner with the Bureau and the MVDN in 2025 to expand the program’s reach to Maine veterans facing more complex dental challenges.” 

Across the state, participating MVDN dental clinics are reporting an increase in complex, high-risk cases due to veterans’ long-standing lack of access to dental care and proper nutrition—sometimes for decades. These cases often involve severe oral health issues, such as difficulty with basic mouth functions (opening, closing, speaking, and chewing), broken or missing teeth, and other conditions that negatively impact overall health. 

This specific denture-focused grant will be available only to veterans who are already enrolled in the MVDN, have an established treatment plan within the network, and are currently awaiting care from a denturist. 

Veterans interested in applying to the MVDN may do so by completing the online form, emailing MVDN.mainebvs@maine.gov, or calling 207-287-6836. 

To qualify for the MVDN, veterans must meet the following criteria: 

·     Be a Maine resident

·     Not be 100% service-connected through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

·     Be unable to afford out-of-pocket dental care

·     Not have any form of dental insurance

·     Submit a DD-214 showing an Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions discharge

·     For National Guard or Reservists only: Must have served on Active Duty (other than for training)

“This program serves a significant number of Vietnam-era veterans who often received substandard dental care decades ago, frequently resulting in extractions. For this generation, the cost of replacement options—such as dentures—is considerably higher than the preventive and restorative care MVDN typically provides,” said David Richmond, director of the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services. “We are extremely grateful to the Foundation and HM Payson for their generosity. This grant will enable veterans in our program to access the next level of oral healthcare they need.”