MESA, Ariz. — An East Valley dentist is giving back in a big way ahead of Veterans Day. Dr. Shawn Monahan is on a mission to serve those who have served us, by giving free dental care to veterans on Friday.
The Veterans Day Give Back is happening at Monahan Dentistry and Implant Center in Mesa. Dr. Shawn Monahan said appointments filled up fast for the free care.
Friday will mark the second annual Veterans Day Give Back. Dr. Monahan said they’ve canceled all of their regular patients for the day. They’re only going to see veterans and give free dental care, serving those who have made sacrifices for our country.
Dr. Monahan said his office can start with comprehensive exams, full screenings, checking gums, and teeth for cavities and tooth decay. They can even do oral cancer screenings, take care of fillings, extractions and cleanings, anything a veteran could need that they can provide.
Dr. Monahan comes from a military family and is passionate about serving veterans.
“I want to just give back to them and salute them for all of their hard work and their dedication to keeping us safe and keeping our country a free place to be every day," Dr. Monahan said. "And this is I figured, the least I can do if I have this skill to help and make people healthy. I want to give back to them.”
He also said he wants to break barriers for veterans and dental care.
“I found out that the biggest barrier to people coming in is that factor that it's been so many years they might feel embarrassed, or I've found that many of our veterans, they actually feel a little bit guilty taking maybe free care or getting something like a handout, but I don't want them to think of it that way," Dr. Monahan said. "I want them to think of it like a blessing to me and my team here, because it is our pleasure and our honor to give back to them, and so I don't want that to be a barrier in any way.”
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