Hundreds Turn Out For Free Dental Clinic In Maryland

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Hundreds of people gathered outside St Vincent Pallotti High School on Friday. This was in preparation for a free dental clinic organised by Catholic Charities and the Maryland Office of Oral Health.

By Friday evening, a crowd of people had already gathered on the pavement outside the school in anticipation of the gates opening on Saturday. During the weekend, a team of dental volunteers treated more than 700 people, but 300 were turned away because the clinic was full to capacity.

Many who were waiting for the clinic said that they had no choice but to join the ever-growing line as they could not afford to pay a dentist and they needed treatment to ease pain. Even patients who had insurance said that they were having difficulty getting the treatment they needed because of the excess and the rising cost of living.

More than 400 volunteers, including dentists, dental nurses and hygienists, volunteered at the Mid-Maryland Mission of Mercy clinic. It is estimated that around $750,000 worth of treatment was provided free of charge.

40-year-old Yasmin Bellavigna was the first person in line on Friday. She has dental insurance but said that she still cannot afford treatment to replace a cap, which fell off over a year ago after root canal treatment. She arrived at 8pm on Friday and watched the crowd gather and form a line around the corner, as more and more people arrived

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