History

The North Carolina Missions of Mercy ( NC MOM) portable free dental program is a branch of the Open Door Dental Clinic of Alamance County, a 501(c)(3) free dental clinic begun in 1998. Its mission is "To provide free dental services to those in financial need with few or no other options". The goals of the program are simple and as follows:

The NC MOM is entirely a grassroots effort, dependent on an all volunteer staff, members of which donate their time and talents tirelessly for various personal reasons and motivations, with funding from grants and donations. The services rendered include extractions, fillings, cleanings, and various minor services. During this past year the program received national and statewide recognition with an article in the American Dental Association newsletter, a national award from USA Today Weekend Magazine, and a prestigious award from the NC Association of Free Clinics.

In 2003, after observing a free dental program of the Virginia Dental Association in which a large amount of portable dental equipment was utilized by volunteers to provide treatment to needy individuals in different areas of that state, it was felt that such a program could be initiated here and be very successful. Using equipment borrowed from Virginia at first, while procuring equipment with grants and donations from generous organizations, the weekend clinics were begun here in NC in early 2004. Currently the NC MOM has enough equipment to set up a 30 chair clinic including full x-ray, sterilization, and all instrumentation and supplies. For each clinic there are generally set up 20-30 chairs on which are services provided for 250-450 needy folks per clinic. The volunteers include dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and scores of general volunteers from all areas of the state. Additionally, the program enjoys a good relationship with the UNC School of Dentistry and utilizes, with approval from the NC Dental Examiners, dental students who participate and deliver treatment as well. During the past year the program has held weekend clinics in the following NC counties: Alamance, Beaufort, Chatham, Clay, Jackson, Mitchell, New Hanover, Surry, Watauga, and Yadkin. Although the NC MOM does limit its clinics to helping those in North Carolina, it did hold a large 65 chair clinic in New Orleans during February, 2006 in partnership with the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association, the Remote Area Medical of Knoxville, the Louisiana State Dental Association, and the LSU School of Dentistry. During this weeklong clinic free dental treatment was provided to over 3600 needy individuals and hurricane victims of that area.

The Wilmington clinic in April of 2006 was the largest yet, with 450 patients receiving treatment during the two day period. It is expected that number of patients receiving treatment during each of one or more of the clinics will exceed 500 patients during the upcoming year, most likely in Wilmington. By the end of 2006 it is expected that the program will have provided treatment for 3000 or more needy patients statewide, with this number increasing yearly.

As the program is all volunteer, there are no personnel expenses. As the clinics are held in areas provided by the hosting organizations, there are no facility expenses. As the majority of the supplies are obtained free of charge from dental supply dealers, there are minimal supply expenses. Therefore, the program funding needs are very modest relative to an organization of this magnitude, and is dependent on grants, donations, and gifts.