Being Prepared for What’s Next in Veteran Health Care
Veteran dental care is at a crossroads.
As the number of veterans and eligibility for health care increases, VA facilities and the Community Care Network of private providers must be ready to meet increasing demand. Preparing for what’s next means more than adding treatment capacity. It means having the right equipment, technology, infrastructure, service, and expertise in place to deliver high-quality care efficiently and reliably.
A Growing Need for Veteran Care
The PACT Act, or Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, expanded VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances and other environmental hazards during their service. These changes have increased the number of veterans seeking care and placed additional demands on an already complex health care infrastructure.
The Department of Veterans Affairs continues to invest in the modernization, repair, and improvement of its health care facilities. Expanding through new clinics and additional operating hours contributes to reducing the backlog of care and providing the treatment promised to our veterans.
Where does dental care stand? Oral Health Is Part of Overall Health
It can be shocking to learn that dental care is currently limited to service-disabled veterans.
Of the nine million veterans eligible for medical care through the VHA, approximately 1.8 million are also eligible for dental care. Among veterans eligible for dental care, a third use that benefit annually. In fiscal year 2025, more than 888,000 veterans received dental care through VA, with millions of dental procedures delivered through VA facilities and private Community Care when geographic distance, appointment availability, provider capacity, and other barriers can make it difficult.
The connection between oral health and overall health is increasingly recognized as an important component of comprehensive patient care. Those who have recently been discharged may be in school or new employment where dental care is not included in private insurance or affordable. Dental care access to consistent preventive and restorative dental care is especially critical for veterans managing complex or chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
That makes the ability to deliver dental care efficiently and effectively more important than ever.
Since 2021 the Dental Care for Veterans Act that would furnish dental care in the same manner as any other medical service has been introduced to Congress and has not passed. With the most cosponsors in its history, H.R. 210 has gone the furthest to becoming a bill and has been given to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. If signed into law, the bill would expand eligibility over four years based upon existing eligibility, degree of service-connected disability or other disability, prisoner of war status, award of a Purple Heart, financial need, or VA health care eligibility.
Preparing for What Comes Next
Legislative efforts to expand dental care for veterans have continued for years. The Dental Care for Veterans Act (H.R. Bill 210 (119th)) represents another significant effort to expand eligibility for dental care within the VA health care system.
If expanded dental benefits become available to more veterans, the impact on VA dental facilities and Community Care providers could be substantial.
More eligible patients mean more appointments, more procedures, and greater demands on clinical teams and facility infrastructure.
Being prepared means asking important questions now:
Can your facility support increased patient volume?
Is your imaging technology current and adaptable?
Are your treatment units designed for efficient, comfortable clinical care?
Can your mechanical systems keep pace with expanded operatory capacity?
Are your infection prevention systems supporting a clean, efficient environment?
Do you have a trusted partner who understands installation, service, preventative maintenance, and the unique requirements of government and military dental facilities?
Technology That Supports Better Care
Modern dental technology can help facilities improve clinical efficiency while supporting the needs of both providers and patients.
Technologies such as Planmeca Ultra Low Dose™ imaging can support diagnostic imaging while helping minimize patient radiation exposure. Planmeca CALM® can help clinicians capture more consistent panoramic images, while modern treatment units and operator seating can support clinician ergonomics and patient comfort.
Behind the operatory, reliable infrastructure is just as important.
Compressed air, vacuum, evacuation, and infection control systems may not be the most visible components of a dental clinic, but they are essential to keeping treatment rooms operating efficiently. Products from Air Techniques, for example, can help support the mechanical and infection-control infrastructure that dental teams rely on every day.
The best clinical technology cannot perform at its best if the systems supporting it are unreliable.
Equipment Is Only Part of the Solution
Preparing for the future of veteran dental care requires more than purchasing equipment.
It requires an experienced partner who understands the entire lifecycle of a dental facility, from planning and equipment selection to installation, service, and preventative maintenance.
When demand changes quickly, facilities need partners who can respond quickly as well.
At UGS, we understand that government and military dental facilities have unique requirements. Our team brings decades of combined dental industry experience to help organizations select the right equipment, plan efficient clinical spaces, coordinate installation, and maintain critical systems throughout their lifecycle.
Because being ready for what’s next means more than having the best equipment.
It means having the right equipment, the right infrastructure, and the right support behind it.
As veteran dental care continues to evolve, facilities that prepare today will be better positioned to deliver the care veterans deserve tomorrow.
UGS Always Exceptional.
Want to hear more about UGS team prepares you for the next steps in care? Drop us a line by email at marketing@ugsmedical.com.