Mission of Mercy free dental clinic this weekend

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation will hold its signature Rhode Island Mission of Mercy (RI MOM) two-day free dental clinic on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 30, at the Delta Dental of Rhode Island dental clinic at Providence Community Health Centers at 335R Prairie Ave. Delta Dental of Rhode Island and Providence Community Health Centers are the event’s premier sponsors.

The clinic’s line will open at 5:45 a.m. (note that early arrivals are not allowed). Beginning at 7 a.m., patients will be seen on a first come, first serve basis, and the number of patients seen each day will be determined according to clinic capacity. Dental services will include X-rays, oral health instruction, fillings, some root canal treatment on front teeth only, tooth extractions, minor denture repairs, and a limited number of partial dentures to replace missing front teeth.

RI MOM will not provide cleanings, root canals on back (molar) teeth, extractions of impacted wisdom teeth, full dentures, caps (crowns) or teeth whitening.

All clinic services are free for patients. RI MOM is open to those without the financial resources to pay for dental care and to those who do not have a regular dentist. No personal identification or documentation is required, but all patients should bring a list of any current medications they are taking. Interpreters will be available to assist non-English speaking patients.

Delta Dental of Rhode Island has been a premier sponsor of the Mission of Mercy clinic since its inception in 2012. Since then, the free dental clinic has provided care to more than 4,025 patients.

“Our premier sponsorship of the Mission of Mercy clinic is critical to our mission of improving the oral health of all Rhode Islanders,” said Joe Nagle, president & CEO of Delta Dental of Rhode Island. “Many Delta Dental employees look forward to volunteering at RI MOM, and we thank the many participating Delta Dental dentists who give their time and talent to this important event.”

“We look forward to welcoming patients and volunteers into our dental facility,” says Merrill R. Thomas, chief executive officer for PCHC. “RI MOM is a natural fit with our 50-year history of providing neighborhood-based, accessible primary care and dental care with professionalism, dignity and respect.”

“We are looking forward to our sixth Mission of Mercy, and to serving patients in Providence Community Health Centers’ state-of-the-art dental clinic,” says Dr. Jeffrey Dodge, DMD, Mission of Mercy co-chair. “The Mission of Mercy plays an important role in serving the many patients who need access to oral health care in Rhode Island.”

To learn more about the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy free dental clinic or for more information, visit www. rimom.org.