Marking a near-decade of targeted service to the military community, non-profit community health provider Zufall Health has announced the return of its annual “Smiles for Our Heroes” initiative.
Scheduled for June 13, the event will transform Zufall’s West Orange health center into a mass free dental clinic dedicated entirely to low-income and underinsured military veterans. The long-running program is fully funded and supported by its founding partner, the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation, which is concurrently celebrating its 40th anniversary of regional philanthropic giving.
Since debuting in 2017, the annual event has acted as a critical healthcare bridge for hundreds of New Jersey veterans who do not qualify for dental benefits through the standard Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) framework.
Veterans clearing the simple income-eligibility guidelines will have access to a full range of urgent and preventative dental treatments completely free of charge, regardless of their current insurance status. The on-site medical teams will provide:
- Routine cleanings and deep scaling
- Structural composite fillings
- Emergency extractions
- Fittings for life-changing, custom-fabricated dentures
“Our veterans deserve to smile with confidence,” Frances Palm, president and CEO of Zufall Health said. “For nine years, Smiles for Our Heroes has delivered free, life-changing dental care to those who served. We’re proud to carry that mission forward this June in West Orange.”
Serving nearly 53,000 patients annually across seven northern and central New Jersey counties, Zufall Health is recognized by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as being in the top 10% of community health centers nationwide for clinical quality.
The event organizers are intentionally structuring the day to move past temporary, single-day triages. Every veteran treated during the event will be explicitly invited and scheduled to establish Zufall Health as their permanent, year-round “dental home.” This integration ensures long-term continuity of care, routine cleanings, and ongoing medical management far beyond the initial June clinic.
“When a veteran’s smile is restored, their whole life changes,” Paul Di Maio, president and CEO of Delta Dental of New Jersey said. “They can eat again, speak with confidence again, and lead a healthier life overall… For nine years running, we have been honored to partner with Zufall Health, our Foundation’s longest-running grantee in our 40-year history.”
The 2026 gathering will also feature holistic support structures running parallel to the dental chairs. To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary year, the campus will feature a resource fair connecting veterans to medical, financial, and housing services, accompanied by live patriotic music from the Denville String Band and volunteer assistance from Parsippany Boy Scout Troop 173.
