U.S. Army Veteran Lori Cooper spent a Saturday at the Golden Corral, collecting funds to support the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). This kind of volunteer service isn’t unusual for Ms. Cooper, a Sun City resident who was elected to serve as only the second female commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20, 8447 N. 61st Ave., in Glendale.

“Our vets need to be appreciated,” she explained. “It’s in my heart to help veterans, and since I’ve been out of the Army, I’ve surrounded myself with vets to help make a difference for them.”

This year, on Veterans Day, the gift of giving back is being returned to Ms. Cooper, and she couldn’t be more appreciative.

“I was shocked and ecstatic,” said Ms. Cooper, when she learned that local dentist Dr. Sibera Brannon was giving her a special gift on Veterans Day: the gift of a smile.

“I’m not sure if I even know how to truly smile,” explained Ms. Cooper, who lost most of her teeth, and does not quality for dental coverage through her military benefits. “I haven’t smiled in 10 to 15 years, and it is so very humbling to feel you are appreciated especially being a female vet. I feel so blessed that I am going to be able to smile again.”

Dr. Brannon on Monday, Nov. 11 provided free dental care to Ms. Cooper, along with two other veterans, at his Affordable Dentures & Implants practice, 10918 W. Bell Road in Sun City. The dental care provided -- all specialized dental treatments performed daily by Dr. Brannon at his practice -- will include teeth extractions, dentures, and implant surgery, with implants donated by Bio Horizons and Straumann Neodent.

“It is such a rewarding process to talk with veterans and hear their responses when I acknowledge their service and sacrifice for our country,” Dr. Brannon explained. “I want our veterans to know, and I want to show them through the gift of my services, how much they truly are appreciated for protecting our freedom.”

Dr. Brannon has a personal mission to give back in the community especially to military veterans, many of whom do not have health benefits that cover dental care.

“Every day in my practice, I see what a smile can do for a patient,” Dr. Brannon said. “It’s truly an honor to help our veterans.”

Ms. Cooper added, “I wish there were more doctors like Dr. Brannon. I am so honored to have this gift, and from now on, to me, he is called St. Brannon.”

U.S. Navy Veteran Patrick Young, of Phoenix, also smiled again on Veterans Day, thanks to Dr. Brannon.

“My military benefits do not cover dental care, and this is a real blessing to be able to smile again,” he explained. “I love to sing and entertain, and when you face people, and you have cracked teeth, you try to hide yourself and not smile. I can’t wait to look people in the eye and smile.”

Mr. Young, who served in Vietnam as a corpsman with the Marines and suffered severe injuries from a landmine, added, “Those who serve in the military appreciate when the public is accepting of us. We didn’t get a good reception coming home from Vietnam, and this kind of gift is very much appreciated.”

Joining Ms. Cooper and Mr. Young on Veterans Day was Anthony Ritta, an Air Force veteran who lives in Phoenix.

“I grew my moustache and beard to cover my mouth and teeth, and I can’t wait to shave again,” Mr. Ritta said. “I’m very appreciative and I’m just so happy. It makes you feel really good to have something like this done for you.”

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. For military veterans, in order to qualify for full VA dental benefits, they must be 100 percent disabled, have been a prisoner of war or have developed a dental condition during their service.

Editor’s note: Kathie Woehrmann is Sr. Director of Communications with Affordable Care, LLC; America’s largest dental support organization focused on tooth replacement services.