Pop-up dental care event treats more than 250 people
More than 250 patients, 40 dentists and dental residents and 150 volunteers gathered at Fauquier High School over the weekend for Piedmont Smiles, a popup event that provides free dental care to patients in and around Fauquier and Rappahannock counties.
The project is put on by the Virginia Dental Association Foundation - Mission of Mercy. Additional sponsors and partners included PATH Foundation, the Culpeper Wellness Foundation, the Wise Foundation, Dominion National, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Howard University College of Dentistry, Drs. Woodside, Sentz & Associates, Fauquier Health, Fauquier High School, Just Neighbors, Meyer Clinic, Chick- l-A, Golf Spot 29, Ledo Pizza, Atlantic Union Bank, Virginia Emergency Medicine Associates, Piedmont Environmental Council, The Bridge Community Church and Shawn's Barbecue.
Free services included cleanings, llings, extractions, oral health education and root canals, according to a news release.
“Families with limited incomes really struggle to obtain dental care, o en putting it o until the consequences or the pain become too much,” Rob Marino, executive director of the Fauquier Free Clinic, the host organization for the Warrenton event, said in the release. “It’s a shame because if we could get to the patients sooner we could prevent a lot of pain and su ering.”
Last year’s Mission of Mercy dental project provided care to 211 patients, prompting the Virginia Dental Association Foundation to return for a second time.
The Fauquier High School gym was transformed into a large dental care facility in a matter of hours. Temporary plumbing, advanced X-ray capability, air and water service and 36 mobile dental chairs were set up by dental students from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. Faculty and residents from Howard University, as well as many local dental and medical professionals, joined them to provide the services.
Michelle McGregor, director of community and collaborative partnerships at the VCU School of Dentistry, said the school’s dental students, dental hygiene students, residents and faculty are “committed to community service.”
“Piedmont Smiles was a unique opportunity for our students to work directly with their peers at Howard University, which fosters the kind of collaboration that is needed for our profession to meet these needs everywhere,” McGregor said.
Dentists and volunteers began their work with patient pre-screenings on Friday and continued with treatments starting early Saturday. By 5 a.m., patients were lining up in the darkness waiting to receive free X-rays, cleanings, llings, extractions, oral surgeries and endodontic services. The clinic wrapped up the last patient -- who needed two root canal procedures -- 12 hours later at 5 p.m.
"Dental health is a fundamental part of overall health,” Margy Thomas, program o cer at the PATH Foundation, said in the release. “It’s very di cult for the uninsured or underinsured to routinely visit a dental provider, so Piedmont Smiles o ers dental care to folks in our community that o en lack access to this critical service.”
Dr. Tontra Lowe of Awesome Smiles in Gainesville served as the dental director for the event.