Texas Mission of Mercy to host free dental clinic in Austin for the first time
The Texas Mission of Mercy will visit Austin for the first time, it has been confirmed. The charity will be hosting a free dental clinic over the course of the weekend of the 20th and 21st July at William B Travis High School.
The clinic will be the first of its kind in Austin and organisers are expecting large crowds to turn out in the city. Over the last 17 years, the charity, combined with the Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation, has overseen 70 projects across the state, providing dental treatment for more than 35,000 patients.
Free dental clinics have become increasingly popular across America in the last decade, as more and more people struggle to afford routine dental care. Many people don’t have insurance benefits as part of an employment package and even those that do have jobs sometimes find it difficult to afford insurance. For those on low incomes and the unemployed, it’s virtually impossible to afford a visit to the dentist, especially for complex treatments, such as root canal treatment, crowns, implants and advanced gum disease treatment. Charities like the Mission of Mercy provide opportunities for people who haven’t got insurance or the money to pay see a dentist.
Judith Gonzalez, director of the Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation, said that the primary aim of the clinics is to relieve pain and prevent the spread of dental infections. A range of services will be available in Austin, including tooth extraction, fillings and dental cleaning. In some cases, repairs will be available for broken and missing teeth.
Join this Discussion