Hundreds turn out for free Mission of Mercy dental clinic in North Dakota
Hundreds of people turned out for a free dental clinic hosted by the Mission of Mercy in North Dakota over the weekend. Crowds started to gather long before the clinic officially opened its doors at the Bismarck Event Center, with some patients arriving on Thursday evening in preparation for the opening on Friday 28th September.
Around 90 dentists and hundreds of additional volunteers offered their time to ensure the clinic ran smoothly, with appointments available on a first come, first served basis. Organised by the Mission of Mercy, those fortunate enough to make it through the door were able to access a range of free dental services, including extractions, fillings and cleaning treatments.
The clinic was the first North Dakota Mission of Mercy event, and it is hoped that there will be follow-up sessions in the future. Dr Brent Holman, chair of the organisation, said that there is an obvious demand for free dental care, and the team worked tirelessly to see as many people as possible over the course of the weekend.
Dr John Warford, one of the many dentists involved, said that patients were incredibly grateful to see a dentist. Many have been suffering for months, even years, and the clinic provided an opportunity they would never have been able to access otherwise. Cost is the most common barrier to dental care in the US, and some patients were in tears just knowing that they were going to finally get the treatment they needed.
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