The Minnesota State Dental Association and the Minnesota Dental Foundation teamed up with the North Dakota Dental Association and the North Dakota Dental Foundation to provide free dental care to children and adults who have difficulty accessing dental care. This was the fifth annual Mission of Mercy event in Minnesota, providing more than $1 million worth of free dental care. The sponsor of the event was once again the Delta Dental Foundation of Minnesota, which donated $150,000 for the fifth consecutive year.
Concordia College Memorial Auditorium was transformed into a massive dental clinic equipped with 75 dental chairs, 16 sterilizing machines, and seven x-ray machines. Over two days, 1,391 patients were seen and more than 7,655 dental procedures were performed, including 1,003 fillings, 1,394 extractions, 1,418 x-rays, 292 cleanings, 81 partial dentures, and 59 root canals. Patients treated ranged from Moorhead and Fargo to other parts of the state and even other states.
The two-day event attracted more than 800 volunteers from across Minnesota and North Dakota, including dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental therapists, translators, and hundreds of community volunteers who served as receptionists, registration assistants, and patient ambassadors. In addition to the two days of clinic activities, volunteers also devoted a lot of time to setting up and dismantling the large Concordia dental clinic.
Mission of Mercy is dedicated to providing dental care to underserved populations who have limited access to dental care, many of whom suffer from chronic pain and even infections from untreated dental disease.
“The long lines that formed each day at this year’s event in Moorhead clearly showed that there are still thousands of people who are unable to get the dental care they need,” said Dr. Peter Cannon, a practicing dentist and president of the Minnesota Dental Association. “It’s unfortunate to hold an event like this, but until a long-term solution is found, dental professionals will continue to work together to ensure dental care is available to those who need it most.”
The Minnesota Dental Foundation raised more than $220,000 in donations to cover the cost of the event.
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