North Carolina Missions of Mercy

History

The North Carolina Missions of Mercy (NCMOM) portable free dental program is an outreach program of the North Carolina Dental Society. The program is sponsored by the North Carolina Dental Health Fund.  The North Carolina Dental Health Fund is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization whose 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 under served persons within North Carolina as is possible.

• To involve as much of the dental community of the state in the treatment of the under served as is possible.

The NCMOM 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. Since its beginning in 2003 the program has 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 NCMOM has enough equipment to set up a 45 chair full dental clinic including digital x-ray, sterilization, and all instrumentation and supplies. Clinics are generally set up with 20 to 45 chairs and services are provided for 300 to 600 patients per 2-day event.  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 its ENNEAD student volunteer organization.  Dental students comprise 15 to 30 of the volunteer providers during each clinic and are a major part of the overall program.

 Since the program is all-volunteer, there are no personnel expenses. Since the clinics are held in areas provided by the hosting organizations, there are no facility expenses. As the majority of the supplies are discounted from dental supply dealers, there are reduced supply expenses. The program funding needs are very modest relative to an organization of this magnitude.  However, even so, the financial needs are always there with expenses increasing yearly.  The NC Missions of Mercy program is dependent on funding from charitable foundations, civic organization, and private donations.

Performance and Statistical Results

Since it’s founding in 2003 through the end of 2008 the North Carolina Missions of Mercy Project has held over 60 weekend clinics in numerous counties of North Carolina including:  Alamance, Alleghany, Beaufort, Caswell, Chatham, Clay, Jackson, Mitchell, Nash, New Hanover, Scotland, Surry, Watauga, Wayne, and Yadkin.  Although the NCMOM primarily limits its clinics to helping citizens of North Carolina, it participated in 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 3,600 needy individuals and hurricane victims of that area.

 In the spring of 2008 the North Carolina Dental Society sponsored the largest Missions of Mercy clinic held in North Carolina.  The clinic, held in Rocky Mount consisted of 62 dental stations and volunteers from all over the state.  In this clinic, services were provided to 970 needy patients.

Other sizeable clinics have been held in Wilmington, NC the largest being 2009 in which over 647 patients received treatment. Over the years the program has continued to gain momentum and grow and the number of patients served is increasing yearly statewide. Since it’s founding in 2003 through the end of 2008 the number of patients receiving free care is in excess of 17,000 with a dollar value of $5 million. To date in 2009 with 6 clinics completed approximately 2,443 patients have received free dental treatment valued at $974,000. Upcoming clinics scheduled through the end of this year will be held in Washington, Laurinburg, Kill Devil Hills, Greensboro and Goldsboro.

Donations

Donations to support the North Carolina Missions of Mercy projects may be made online, or by mail with this download-able form.

If you have any "gently used", equipment or supplies (such as curing lights, amalgamators, cavitrons, Ultrasonic cleaners, sterilizer, hand pieces, etc.) that you no longer use or need, or you would just like to donate, please contact our office.

North Carolina Dental Health Fund is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations.

Thank you for making a donation to the Mission of Mercy project. We appreciate your kindness and will not share your information with any other organization.