Submitted photo Dr. Daniel Fornetti works on a veteran patient during the 2023 “Dentistry for Our Vets” event at the John Fornetti Dental Center in Iron Mountain. This year’s event will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the center.

IRON MOUNTAIN — The John Fornetti Dental Center will have its 10th-annual “Dentistry for Our Vets” event Saturday in connection with Veterans Day.

“Dentistry for Our Vets” is a day of free dental care for any Armed Forces veteran older than 18. Veterans have their choice of a cleaning, a filling or an extraction with no out-of-pocket cost to them. Depending on the turnout of interest, some veterans can get back in line and receive multiple services on the same day.

An estimated 50 to 100 veterans are expected to line up for free dental services Saturday. Due to limitations on dental benefits, only a small percentage of veterans qualify to receive them. When a dental cleaning can cost more than $100 and fillings, extractions can easily cost over $200 or more, an event such as this to support their health is a day veterans look forward to all year.

Thanks to the help of volunteers, both from the community and other Michigan dental professionals, the dental center can manage the volume of veteran visitors and give much-deserved care on the occasion.

“It’s a way for us to give back to those who have served our country, and it brings me, my team and our volunteers so much joy,” center owner Dr. John Fornetti said. “We get to witness camaraderie, the sharing of stories and building relationships, but most of all it’s fulfilling a need these veterans have, giving them relief and a boost to their confidence.”

The program will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central time at the center, 100 S. Stephenson Ave. in Iron Mountain, and operates on a “first come, first served” basis; no advance bookings for appointments are taken. Veterans should monitor the weather and dress accordingly, in case the waiting line extends outside the building into the elements.