VA, VA dental care eligibility

VA Dental Care | Veterans Affairs Skip to Content An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you're connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and sent securely. Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now Health care About VA health benefits Long-term care Dental care VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) Vision care Blind and low-vision services Cuidado dental de VA In this section VA dental care If you qualify for VA dental care benefits, you may be able to get some or all of your dental care through VA. Find out how to get VA dental care or how to buy dental insurance if you don’t qualify. Can I get VA dental care benefits for some or all of my dental care? It depends on a number of factors, like your military service history and your current health and living situation. Based on these factors, VA places you into a benefits class—and you get the specific benefits assigned to that class. Review the section below for more information. What VA dental care benefits do I qualify for? Select the statement below that describes you best to find out your benefits class and the dental benefits you may qualify for: I have a service-connected dental disability or condition for which I receive compensation (monthly payments) You’re in: Class I You may qualify for: Any needed dental care I’m a former prisoner of war You’re in: Class IIC You may qualify for: Any needed dental care I have 1 or more service-connected disabilities rated 100% disabling You’re in: Class IV You may qualify for: Any needed dental care Note: If you’re being paid at the 100% disabling rate based on a temporary rating (for a reason such as a long stay in the hospital or rehab care), that doesn’t qualify you for this benefit. I’m unemployable (unable to work), and I get disability compensation at the 100% disabling rate due to service-connected conditions You’re in: Class IV You may qualify for: Any needed dental care Note: If you’re being paid at the 100% disabling rate based on a temporary rating (for a reason such as a long stay in the hospital or rehab care), that doesn’t qualify you for this benefit. I served on active duty for 90 days or more during the Persian Gulf War era You’re in: Class II You may qualify for: One-time dental care if you meet all of these requirements All of these must be true for you: You didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, and You applied for dental care within 180 days of discharge or release, and Your DD214 certificate of discharge doesn’t show that you had a complete dental exam and all needed dental treatment before you were discharged Note: If you got a dental award letter from VBA dated before 1955 stating that your dental conditions aren’t compensable, then you are no longer eligible for Class II outpatient dental treatment. This is because of Public Law 83, which was enacted June 16, 1955, that amended Veterans’ eligibility for outpatient dental services. I have a service-connected noncompensable dental condition (a dental condition that you’re not getting disability payments for) or a disability that’s the result of combat wounds or service trauma You’re in: Class IIA You may qualify for: Any dental care needed to make sure you have and can keep a functioning dentition (a working set of teeth) You should know: A Dental Trauma Rating (VA Form 10-564-D) or VA Regional Office Rating Decision letter (VA Form 10-7131) will tell you the tooth/teeth/condition(s) that are trauma rated. A VA dental care provider has concluded that my dental condition is linked to a service-connected health condition and is making that condition worse You’re in: Class III You may qualify for: Dental care to treat the oral conditions that a VA dental care provider concludes are directly making your service-connected health condition worse I’m active in a 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment program You’re in: Class V You may qualify for: Dental care that a VA dental care provider concludes is needed to achieve at least 1 of these goals The dental care must be needed to achieve 1 or more of these goals: Make it possible for you to be in the employment program, or Make it possible for you to reach the goals of your Veteran Readiness and Employment program, or Prevent you from having to stop your employment program, or Help you get back to your employment program faster if you’ve had to stop (and are in “interrupted” or “leave” status), or Help you get back to your employment program faster if you’ve had to stop (and are in “discontinued” status) because of an illness, injury, or dental condition, or Make it possible for you to get and adjust to a job during the period of employment assistance, or Make it possible for you to be fully independent in your daily living I get VA care or am scheduled for inpatient care for a health condition—and I need dental care for a dental issue that’s making my health condition harder to treat You’re in: Class VI You may qualify for: Dental care to treat the dental issue that a VA dental care provider finds is making the health condition you’re being treated for harder to treat I’m signed up to get care through the Homeless Veterans Dental Program (VHA Directive 2007-039) You’re in: Class IIB You may qualify for: A one-time course of dental care that a VA dental care provider concludes you need to achieve at least 1 of these goals The dental care must be needed to achieve 1 or more of these goals: Relieve your pain, or Help you get a job, or Treat your moderate, severe, or complicated and severe gingival and periodontal conditions (gum infections that can lead to pain, swelling, and bone and tooth loss if not treated) I currently get inpatient care in a hospital, nursing home, or other supervised homelike care setting (called domiciliary care) You’re in: Inpatient status You may qualify for: Dental services that a VA dental care provider—working with your primary care provider—concludes you need to manage a health condition a doctor is currently treating you for How do I apply for VA dental care benefits? You’ll need to apply for VA health care before going to a VA dental clinic. If you haven’t applied for VA health care yet, you can apply online by filling out the 10-10EZ health care application. Be sure to check your eligibility before you apply. Note: You don’t need to reapply for benefits if you’re already enrolled in VA health care. You can search for your nearest dental clinic for treatment. Find a VA dental clinic near you If I can’t get VA dental care benefits, can I get help buying dental insurance? You may be able to buy dental insurance at a reduced cost through the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) if you meet at least 1 of these requirements. At least 1 of these must be true: You’re signed up for VA health care Apply for VA health care Or you’re signed up for our Civilian Health and Medical Program (also called CHAMPVA, a health insurance program for dependents of Veterans) Find out if you can sign up for CHAMPVA Learn more about VADIP More information about your benefits Not sure if you qualify? Find out if you can get VA health care benefits. Ready to apply? Get started now. Find out how to access VA services for mental health, women’s health, and other specific needs. Have an illness or injury that was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service? Find out if you can get disability compensation from VA. Last updated: January 12, 2026