NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — It's all smiles on Chrischette Placencia, who finally received a $20,000 dental procedure after suffering from missing teeth for the past four months.
Previously a dentist had removed the entire top row of Placencia's teeth after they became too broken and damaged.
"I've only had mashed potatoes and soup pretty much for weeks," said Placencia. "I cover my mouth with my hand whenever I laugh, it's really taken away from my self-confidence."
The new dental procedure was completely free, thanks to the efforts of a fellow veteran and dentist who saw Placencia first enter her practice.
"She said, 'Those military veterans did not take care of my teeth,' and she had no idea that I was a vet," said Dr. Jamiah Dawson, with Affordable Dentures & Implants. "I put my hand right on my hip and turned around and said, 'Wait a minute, I know that's wrong!"
Dawson then made it her mission to restore Placencia's teeth for free just in time for Veterans Day. As a former veteran herself, Dawson said she has served at least six veterans in the past six years free of charge as a way to give back to an underserved community.
"It is genuinely the highlight of my year," said Dawson. "It means everything, everything to me to give back."
Dawson also helped the daughter of U.S. Marine Corp, Samuetta Foster, to restore her smile. The entire procedure costs thousands of dollars.
Neither Placencia nor Foster were billed. Final versions of their implants should be perfected within the next few months.