Phone:  (561) 422-5675
Fax:  (561) 422-8595
Location:  Lobby 3C-200
Available Hours:  Monday - Friday   0730 - 4:30
Primary Service contact:     (561) 422-5675          

We are a busy service that offers comprehensive treatment to 100% disabled, service connected veterans. Other categories of veterans may be seen but treatment is limited. Whether you are eligible for care is determined by Dental Eligibility. Dental care in Palm Beach County is in great demand  If you are a new patient, there may be a 30 day wait for your initial exam.  If you are a part-time resident to south Florida we encourage you to seek care at a VA Dental Service near where you reside the remainder of the year.

If you have treatment needs and are not in pain, we ask that you call into the clinic and you will be scheduled with your provider of record. Our goal is to offer the best treatment for the greatest number of eligible veterans.

Some answer to Questions about dental care for eligible veterans: 

• If you are a snowbird ( not a permanent resident in Florida) and are unable to remain in the area for a period of at least 6 months,  prosthetic treatment( dentures, partials, crowns, or bridges) often cannot be offered. This is due to our present work load, schedules, lab turn around time, and time allowed for remakes if the case does not fit.
• Just as the condition of your mouth took numerous years to get to its present condition, it will take a process of several months or longer to get your mouth back into good oral health. Please understand that many patients require numerous appointments. Please have patience and realize that all good things take time to achieve and correct.
  
• Not all patients are candidates for crown and bridge work. Sometimes the only acceptable treatment may be partials or dentures. We will not put a bridge/crown on teeth that cannot support a bridge or has a questionable prognosis. In addition, a high caries rate (cavities) and poor oral hygiene is a contraindication for ANY crown and bridge work.
  
• If you do not agree with the treatment plan proposed here at the West Palm Beach VA Dental Clinic that is your right. Just because a dentist on the outside says you can have certain dental work done does not mean we can or will perform that work at the VA. We treat our patients with the best treatment when taking into consideration the best long term prognosis for that patient.  There is no monetary incentive for any treatment we render.

Our Goal: To provide a full continuum of high quality, patient focused care to veterans and to become the healthcare provider of choice for veterans in VISN 8.

There are several notable dissimilarities between the VA dental patient and the private sector dental patient.  Our patients are older, financially disadvantaged, and more physically and emotionally compromised.  These conditions require more resources for the delivery of the most routine dental care.  Dentistry at WPBVAMC consists currently of 4 general dentists and 3 hygienists providing primary and preventive care.  Specialists in oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontics and prosthodontics support them.  The Dental Service provides the full range of services which includes oral medicine and diagnosis,rehabilitative and restorative dentistry, fixed and removable Prosthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Endodontic therapy to include single and multiple root endodontics and invasive endodontic surgical procedures, Periodontics and preventive dental procedures including oral health promotion and disease prevention.  We also provide Dental support and care to the Extended Care Facility.  We are the largest hospital based dental service in our service area and we provide dental care to all eligible patients within available resources.  This includes patients who are eligible veterans enrolled in mandated dental programs (Class 1-VI). We also provide care to patients enrolled in other VA medical treatment programs with dental or intra-oral disease which might compromise their medical treatment, patients with specific emergent oral conditions, and patients who are receiving medical treatment that would contraindicate the provision of dental care in a traditional outpatient setting.

In addition the Dental Service fulfills the mission of dental education.  We currently offer a two-year General Practice Residency with two VA sponsored positions to qualified graduates of accredited dental schools.  Through an affiliation with NOVA Southeastern College of Dental Medicine, we have six 2^nd year part time Endodontic Residents.  This program provides an outstanding educational experience for the participants.

Our treatment philosophy is to eliminate and/or control oral disease, and then restore the patient to function. Crowns, bridges or implants will fail in a mouth with active decay and periodontal disease. Prosthetic treatment options offered to those patients that can maintain a healthy mouth may include crowns and bridges and removable partial dentures.  These will be determined by your treating dentist.

We here at the Dental clinic strive to provide you with professional and compassionate dental treatment in a pleasant environment. If you have any suggestions to improve the dental clinic, please let us know.