Air Force veteran has something to smile about

Town Talk staff reports
·2 min read
Dr. Valerie Washington of Affordable Dentures & Implants located (left) provided free dental care as a special thank you to Air Force veteran Gilbert Haynes, 70, for his Military service. The dental care included a tooth extraction and new upper and lower dentures to restore Gilbert’s smile.
Dr. Valerie Washington of Affordable Dentures & Implants located (left) provided free dental care as a special thank you to Air Force veteran Gilbert Haynes, 70, for his Military service. The dental care included a tooth extraction and new upper and lower dentures to restore Gilbert’s smile.

PINEVILLE – U.S. Air Force Veteran Gilbert Haynes, of Alexandria, La., gives back to the local community as a guest speaker and volunteers for outreach programs to help recovering drug and alcohol addicts.

Now, it was someone else’s turn to give back to Haynes. So on Veterans Day, Dr. Valerie Washington of Affordable Dentures & Implants located at 249 Lofton Drive set out on a mission: to bring a much-deserved smile to Haynes through the gift of free dental care, as a special thank you for his Military service.

The dental care provided included a tooth extraction and new upper and lower dentures to restore Haynes' smile.

“I’m very appreciative,” said 70-year-old Haynes, who moved to Alexandria 16 years ago after Hurricane Katrina. “This shows the doctor really cares and it makes you realize that people really do care about you.”

Dr. Valerie Washington of Affordable Dentures & Implants located (left) provided free dental care as a special thank you to Air Force veteran Gilbert Haynes, 70, for his Military service. The dental care included a tooth extraction and new upper and lower dentures to restore Gilbert’s smile.
Dr. Valerie Washington of Affordable Dentures & Implants located (left) provided free dental care as a special thank you to Air Force veteran Gilbert Haynes, 70, for his Military service. The dental care included a tooth extraction and new upper and lower dentures to restore Gilbert’s smile.

Like all Military Veterans, in order to qualify for full VA dental benefits, Haynes must be 100 percent disabled, have been a prisoner of war, or have developed a condition during service. Gilbert does not meet these requirements.

“Gilbert spends much of his free time from work helping others,” said Washington. “We are truly grateful for his service to our country, and we wanted him to be on the receiving end of giving back because he truly deserves it. I see the life-changing difference that dental care and a new smile can have on patients, and my team and I feel privileged to help and honor Gilbert on Veterans Day.”

Haynes, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era, is not alone in his dental care needs. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth and more than 35 million Americans are missing all their teeth on one or both arches.

“I’m looking forward to being able to eat foods that I enjoy like corn on the cob, chicken and pork chops," said Haynes.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Air Force veteran has something to smile about