Hundreds turn out for free dental clinic in Charlotte
Hundreds of people turned out for a free dental clinic in Charlotte over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd December.
The event, which was run by the Mission of Mercy in partnership with North Carolina Dental Society, took place at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Queues started to form long before registration opened early on Friday morning, and many of those hopeful of receiving an appointment had travelled significant distances.
Charlotte resident, Eugene Walker, lined up for hours in the hope of seeing a dentist and having a tooth extracted. Mr Walker said that it was clear from the lines that he wasn’t the only person in need, and praised the work of volunteer dentists, nurses and hygienists. He has struggled with dental issues for years, but simply can’t afford to see a dentist on a regular basis.
Dr Scott Davenport explained that many local people are unable to afford dental treatment, and there’s a high number of people lacking dental insurance in the area. The Mission of Mercy gives people the chance to access the treatment they need without worrying about the financial implications.
Over the course of the weekend, the convention centre was converted into a temporary dental clinic with 100 chairs; the team was hoping to try and treat 1,000 patients.
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