'MouthMobile' stops in Springfield to provide free dental care for veterans

Army veteran John Duback of Ottawa spent about 2 1/2 hours on the road Monday so he could take advantage of an Aspen Dental program in Springfield that offered free dental care to veterans.

Duback, who served from 1971 to 1974, said he doesn’t have dental insurance and hasn’t been to a dentist in about 15 years. He got a professional cleaning from an oral hygienist and also had one of his teeth pulled.

“It’s a fact of life. If you don’t have insurance, (dental care) is a major challenge sometimes,” Duback said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I want to thank all those involved for volunteering their time and service to the veterans.”

Monday’s dental service was provided through Aspen’s MouthMobile, a truck that has been modified into a fully equipped dental office on wheels. It has facilities to treat two patients at a time, and was parked outside the Old State Capitol.

Appointments were made in advance through AMVETS. Duback was one of 20 veterans who were treated in Springfield.

Dr. Aaron Phillips, an Aspen dentist from Mattoon, was one of the dentists in the MouthMobile. He said he was honored to be able to help the veterans.

“My blessing is doing dentistry. I still love it the same way I loved it 25 years ago when I got started,” Phillips said. “But, the high and elation I get giving back to people who have given to our country, it does me good. It makes me feel better about what I do, and it makes me feel better about what my company is doing.”

Phillips said the equipment on the MouthMobile enables them to offer a wide array of services.

“We can do everything from routine fillings, extractions and surgeries. The whole nine yards,” Phillips said.

Prior to coming to Springfield, the mobile dentist office was in Birmingham, Alabama. It will be in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

The Springfield visit, which was a one-day event, was the 22nd tour stop on Aspen Dental’s 2015 Healthy Mouth Movement, a program that helps veterans who are unable to find oral health care due to barriers like finances, availability, time and insurance.

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