One of the Largest Free Dental Clinics in the State

With dental access to care in North Carolina approaching epidemic proportions, the N.C. Dental Society (NCDS) will stage one of the largest free adult dental clinics in the state to treat underserved patients.

The 80-chair clinic will be held in Raleigh August 12-13, 2011 at the RBC Center from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Patients will be treated on a first-come-first-served basis, with patient registration beginning at 6 a.m. each day.

Called “North Carolina Missions of Mercy” or “NCMOM”, the clinic will be staffed by as many as 120 NCDS volunteer dentists and some 40 dental hygienists over the two days. As many as 250 local community volunteers are also expected. Some dentists and dental teams will come from as far away as the mountains and the coast.

During the 48-hour clinic, as many as 1,000 patients will receive examinations, x-rays, cleanings, restorations and extractions for free. They will also be offered oral health education.

To be eligible for treatment, patients must be 18 years of age and may not earn more than 200% of the national poverty level annually.

“This Missions of Mercy event is part of a growing number of NCMOM clinics in North Carolina,” says Dr. Bill Blaylock, N.C. MOM Director. “These clinics typically treat 300-400 patients during a weekend. The Raleigh project is expected to be considerably larger.”

“So far this year, we have seen more than 6,000 patients and provided in excess of $1.5 million in free dental care through the NCMOM project,” Blaylock added.

Co-Sponsors of the Raleigh MOM include the RBC Center, RBC Bank, Poyner & Spruill, Raleigh/Wake County Dental Society, the N.C. Dental Society and Summit Church. “We are so grateful for the overwhelming support we have received from Raleigh and so many organizations and individuals throughout the community,” said Blaylock.

According to Blaylock, there are more than a million Medicaid-eligible adults in North Carolina who are unable to see a dentist regularly. “Many of these individuals have serious oral health problems that can cause not only severe pain, but can pose a serious health risk. With high unemployment in the state and the loss of dental insurance by so many, we are seeing a major increase in NCMOM patients.”

“Even though many dentists treat individuals such as these in their offices and in other local free clinics, there are thousands and thousands with nowhere to turn to get out of pain.”

 

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