Dental practices team up to provide free care to veterans during Greensburg event
Patients who will be arriving for appointments Friday at Modern Dental Associates in Greensburg may have a variety of oral care needs, but they all will share the status of military veteran.
The dental practice at 1040 Towne Square is clearing its regular schedule to provide free care to veterans from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in partnership with staff from Scott Family Dental of Plum.
Hosting dentist Dr. Josh Parry is a Greensburg native who has offered free service events for veterans several times before.
“It’s very gratifying,” he said. “We really look forward to it. It’s the least we can do to help out the people who have risked their well-being for the rest of us.”
He said services provided at the event can be especially helpful for veterans who might not meet qualifications for free dental care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“We want to help people who are underserved and don’t have as good access to care,” he said.
Friday’s event, the first to involve the Plum practice, will bring to bear the donated skills of several dentists as well as dental hygienists and an area root canal specialist, Dr. Benjamin Levine.
Also taking part will be Ashley Ziegler, an expanded functions dental assistant at the Scott Family practice who has helped to organize new features and sponsors for this year’s event. Serving under Dr. Jacqueline Scott, Ziegler is able to work on fillings and temporary crowns for patients.
“We started planning this in May to pull things together and make it happen,” Ziegler said of the event. “We’re hoping to see 80 to 100 veterans.”
Activities that are planned for veteran patients and accompanying family members include: a food truck, from 1 to 6 p.m.; a live set by ’80s cover band 18@Heart, from 4 to 6 p.m.; sweets donated by an area bakery; and gift cards and raffles.
Also on hand will be representatives of Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that offers scholarships to families of fallen or disabled veterans and first responders.
Veterans can call 724-836-3368 for more information about Friday’s event or to schedule an appointment.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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