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:
-
To provide free
dental care to as many needy persons within North Carolina
as is possible
-
To involve as
much of the dental community of the state in the treatment
of the needy as is possible
-
To keep expenses
for the host organizations at a bare minimum
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.
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