The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides veterans with coverage for medical care , but routine dental care only garners partial coverage , being available only to those veterans on 100 % disability or with oral health problems related their service . The lack of full dental care from both the Department of Veterans Affairs , Medicare and Medicaid causes issues for veterans in need . Research supports the provision of dental as well as general health care , showing that gum disease and systemic conditions are strongly correlated . Type 2 diabetes mellitus , cardiovascular disease , and osteoporosis have all been linked to oral issues , with strokes and cancer potentially also related . The risk factors for these diseases are increasingly higher for the older population of Vietnam and Korean War veterans , and as nearly half of the 20 m US veterans are over the age of 65 , the problems will continue to worsen without intervention . For senior citizens , seven in ten have gum disease ; one in five have untreated cavities , and almost one in five have no teeth remaining . Despite these facts , only five states offer adult dental coverage through Medicaid , and even this coverage only covers particular services , with few providers willing to offer them . So his knee replacement had to be put on hold until he could get his mouth treated. As it stands , 70 % of seniors do not have dental insurance , and low - income seniors generally go without basic care for their oral health .
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides veterans with coverage for medical care , but routine dental care only garners partial coverage , being available only to those veterans on 100 % disability or with oral health problems related their service . The lack of full dental care from both the Department of Veterans Affairs , Medicare and Medicaid causes issues for veterans in need . Research supports the provision of dental as well as general health care , showing that gum disease and systemic conditions are strongly correlated . Type 2 diabetes mellitus , cardiovascular disease , and osteoporosis have all been linked to oral issues , with strokes and cancer potentially also related . The risk factors for these diseases are increasingly higher for the older population of Vietnam and Korean War veterans , and as nearly half of the 20 m US veterans are over the age of 65 , the problems will continue to worsen without intervention . For senior citizens , seven in ten have gum disease ; one in five have untreated cavities , and almost one in five have no teeth remaining . Despite these facts , only five states offer adult dental coverage through Medicaid , and even this coverage only covers particular services , with few providers willing to offer them . As it stands , 70 % of seniors do not have dental insurance , and low - income seniors generally go without basic care for their oral health .