Georgia School of Orthodontics Extends Free Orthodontic Care to Purple Heart Recipients and their Families Across Georgia

Retired U.S. Marine Sergeant Major Justin Ezell is a Purple Heart and bronze star recipient whose son, Carson, received complimentary orthodontic treatment through the Purple Heart Smiles Program, offered by Atlanta-based Georgia School of Orthodontics. Pictured: Kelly Ezell, Sergeant Major Justin Ezell, Carson, and Samuel.

Program expands to adult children up to age 26 living in household

ATLANTA (February 25, 2026) — Georgia School of Orthodontics (GSO) is strengthening its commitment to Georgia’s military families, expanding access to orthodontic care through its acclaimed Purple Heart Smiles program. The initiative, which provides complimentary orthodontic treatment to qualifying Purple Heart recipients and their families, will now include adult children up to age 26 who reside in the household.

GSO operates two state-of-the-art patient clinics in Atlanta and Duluth and has built a strong legacy of supporting veterans since 2018 across Georgia. In 2025, the Purple Heart Smiles program expanded to include grandchildren of Purple Heart recipients for complimentary care. Today’s announcement marks the program’s next major enhancement.

“Until recently, dependent children and grandchildren of Purple Heart recipients aged out of our program at 17,” said GSO President, Randy Kluender, DDS, MS. “We are proud to continue expanding our mission. By extending Purple Heart Smiles to include candidates up to the age of 26, we’re helping more military families receive the orthodontic care they need.”

This announcement aligns with the American Dental Association’s National Children’s Dental Health Month in February, which emphasizes the importance of oral health for children and young adults.

“Recent data shows many young adults continue living at home, which can create real financial pressures for our veterans and their families,” said Chief Academic Officer and Dean, Nandakumar Janakiraman, BDS, MDS. “By expanding Purple Heart Smiles, we can help ease that burden while supporting long-term oral health with the highest-quality orthodontic care available.”

In addition to Purple Heart Smiles, GSO will honor this expanded definition of dependent children for its Military and Family discounts, helping more qualifying households access affordable orthodontic treatment.

To date, GSO has provided over $290,000 in complimentary orthodontic care to children and adults in the greater Atlanta area through its programs, including 50 family members served through Purple Heart Smiles. To be considered for Purple Heart Smiles, candidates must meet all eligibility requirements and submit the appropriate documentation. To request a PHS application, click here or call 770.351.7737.

Atlanta-based Georgia School of Orthodontics offers an advanced specialty education program in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. The 36-month residency program, the largest in the U.S., is structured to provide collaborative and evidence-based learning for residents, while providing quality orthodontic care to patients in the school’s two patient clinics in metro Atlanta. GSO’s mission is to educate outstanding dentists to be proficient in the clinical specialty of orthodontics, while providing Georgians with the highest level of patient care available. GSO faculty and staff are dedicated to diversity in both education and practice. For more information about GSO’s residency program, visit GSOrthodontics.org. To schedule a complimentary consultation, visit BracesToday.com or call 770.351.7737.

Source: Gwinnett Daily Post