U.S. military veterans throughout the Texoma area are invited to receive free dental treatment during the annual Keep Veterans Smiling Day on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, at Dr. Sam’s Premier Dentistry, 1005 E. Sara Swamy Drive in Sherman.
Sponsored by the Keep Veterans Smiling private foundation, the annual event provides qualified veterans with no-cost basic dental treatment as a way of recognizing and giving back to those who have served.
Veterans may receive one of three services: a cleaning, filling or extraction.
Treatment will be provided on a walk-up, first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8 a.m. No appointments are necessary or accepted. Veterans should arrive early and sign in no later than 3 p.m.
“Our goal is to give back to these Americans who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms,” said Dr. Sam Nechamkin, founder of Keep Veterans Smiling. “By dedicating an entire day to our Veterans and keeping the treatment choices simple, we can help as many people as possible.”
Nechamkin established Keep Veterans Smiling in 2016 to provide free and low-cost dental treatment to U.S. military veterans living in the Texoma area. Since then, more than 600 veterans have received dental services through the program.
The annual event is held on the third Tuesday of September, with staff typically able to serve as many as 100 veterans during the day.
Why dental care can be difficult for veterans to access
For many veterans, access to routine dental care can be more difficult than access to other health services.
Although the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides extensive dental benefits to certain qualifying veterans, eligibility for dental care is governed separately from many other VA health benefits. As a result, a veteran can be enrolled in VA health care without qualifying for comprehensive dental treatment.
According to the VA, nearly 9 million veterans are enrolled in VA health care, but only about 26 percent are eligible for VA dental care. In fiscal year 2025, the VA provided dental care to 888,051 veterans and delivered more than 3.5 million dental procedures through community care.
Comprehensive VA dental benefits are generally limited to veterans who meet specific eligibility requirements, including those with certain service-connected dental disabilities, former prisoners of war, veterans with qualifying service-related dental trauma and veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability rating.
Other veterans may qualify for limited dental treatment based on specific medical conditions or circumstances. Recently separated veterans may also qualify for a one-time course of dental care if they meet eligibility requirements and apply within 180 days of discharge or separation.
For veterans who do not qualify for comprehensive VA dental care, obtaining routine services such as cleanings and fillings can mean paying out of pocket or obtaining private dental insurance.
The need for care remains significant. At the end of 2023, approximately 1.8 million veterans enrolled in VA health care were eligible for comprehensive dental care. That year, about 690,000 veterans received VA dental services, while most VA dental clinics operated at or near full capacity.
A 2022 VA report found that 85 percent of veterans enrolled in VA health care did not qualify for VA dental care at the time and estimated that approximately 1.3 million veterans faced financial hardships that made paying for dental treatment difficult.
Filling a need in Texoma
Keep Veterans Smiling aims to help fill that gap locally.
While the annual Keep Veterans Smiling Day focuses on basic services that can be completed in a single visit, the organization also provides assistance throughout the year to veterans with more extensive dental needs.
Veterans may apply for consideration for comprehensive treatment, and family members, friends or other individuals may recommend a veteran for assistance.
Veterans selected for extensive treatment receive a complete evaluation, a written treatment plan and dental services at no charge. Applications are reviewed by the professional staff, with selections based on the veteran’s needs and the amount of time required to complete treatment.
The program has provided extensive dental treatment to veterans facing serious dental problems—care that, according to the organization’s 2025 release, could otherwise cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Who qualifies?
Any person living in the Texoma area who has honorably served in a branch of the U.S. military is eligible to participate in Keep Veterans Smiling Day.
No appointments are accepted. Veterans will be treated in the order they arrive and register, and there is no cost for their choice of a cleaning, filling or extraction.
Some patients with certain medical conditions may need to consult with a physician before receiving treatment. Veterans are encouraged to review the program’s pre-treatment information before arriving.
For more information about Keep Veterans Smiling Day, eligibility requirements, pre-treatment information or applications for extensive dental treatment, visit KeepVeteransSmiling.org or call (903) 868-9850.