Volunteer Dentists Bringing Free Dental Care to Patients in North Dakota, Minnesota

BISMARCK, ND--(Marketwired - Jul 11, 2016) - The North Dakota Dental Association and the North Dakota Dental Foundation, in partnership with the Minnesota Dental Association and the Minnesota Dental Foundation, are bringing the Mission of Mercy to Fargo-Moorhead on Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23. Mission of Mercy provides free dental care to children and adults who face barriers to accessing dental care. 

Concordia College Memorial Auditorium will be transformed into a 100-chair clinic to treat as many as 2,000 patients from a wide geographic area. Free care being provided includes cleanings, fillings, extractions, limited treatment for partial dental appliances, and some root canals in front teeth. Dental services not provided are implants, crowns and root canals on molars, full dentures and removal of unexposed wisdom teeth. There is no advance sign up and patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis each day. The doors open at 5:30 a.m. and early arrival is encouraged.

Care is being provided by more than 1,000 volunteers, including dentists from North Dakota and Minnesota, as well as hygienists, dental assistants, translators and lay volunteers. This is the fifth Mission of Mercy event in Minnesota, with free care provided valued at over $4 million since 2012. This year is the first time North Dakotans are eligible to participate in the event.

"North Dakota's dentists are committed to delivering quality dental care to all of our state's residents," said Dr. Brent Holman, executive director of the North Dakota Dental Association. "We understand the unique mix of barriers that prevent some from receiving the care they need and are constantly implementing solutions to those barriers. Mission of Mercy is just one example of our efforts to provide dental care to those who need it, and we look forward to making this an annual event at various locations throughout the state in coming years."

This year's signature sponsor is Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, which is providing $150,000. To date more than 30 organizations and individuals have made tax-deductible cash donations to cover the necessary dental equipment, supplies and food costs for this major event. 

View pictures and video from last year's event.