The Virginia Dental Association Foundation (VDAF) and the Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center, in conjunction with members of the dental residency program at Johnston Memorial Hospital (JMH), provided free dental extractions to 122 patients during the latest Abingdon Mini-MOM (Mission of Mercy) event, held March 24-26, 2022.
Through a partnership with Dr. Michael McCracken, Dr. Scott Miller and Mission Dental Virginia, the Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center provides a variety of services, including preventive and restorative care. Dental care is typically offered to the uninsured on a sliding scale, targeting low-income community members in need throughout Southwest Virginia. However, all care provided at the Mini-MOM event was free to patients.
The VDAF provides free dental care through various direct service programs, including the Mission of Mercy (MOM) mobile dental projects, Donated Dental Services (DDS), and Give Kids a Smile!. The MOM program was created in 2000 by Dr. Terry Dickinson, former executive director of the Virginia Dental Association. Since its inception, the program has provided $48.3 million worth of free dental care to more than 69,000 Virginia patients. The VDAF’s participation in the Mini-MOM clinics is supported by the Virginia Dept. of Health, Gwathmey Memorial Trust, Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, DentaQuest, Delta Dental of Virginia, and the Oral Health Foundation of the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
Over the two and a half-day event, 122 Southwest Virginia patients received a total of 526 free dental extractions, exams and oral cancer screenings. Several alveoloplasties were also performed. The total value of care provided by dental residents, as well as volunteer dentists, was $120,182. Numerous volunteers assisted in the project, including dentists, dental residents and dental students, dental hygienists and dental hygiene students, dental assistants and dental assisting students, and general volunteers.
“The VDAF is very grateful for the collaboration of all our generous partners,” said Tara Quinn, Executive Director of the Virginia Dental Association Foundation. “This and future mini-MOM events will help to reduce health disparities by providing needed dental care while also helping to create a pipeline for future dentists to practice in Southwest Virginia.”
“This event would not have been as successful if not for a collaborative effort between our residency, local dentists, WCC dental hygiene students, and MECC dental assistant students. We also appreciate the support of the folks at the Virginia Health Care Foundation, United Healthcare, JMH and especially the VDAF for all they do for our local communities,” Dr. Scott Miller.
