By: Julieta Hernandez
Over 70 volunteer dentists and over 500 volunteers in the dental profession, community groups, and businesses will be lending their services to low-income adult patients this weekend providing much needed dental services, and another reason to smile.
The American Dental Association reports that basic dental care isn’t accessible to many adults. Untreated dental issues can lead to some serious health problems including gingivitis and gum disease. That’s where the Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation (TDASF) comes in.
Every year, they send a mobile dental clinic that hosts about 4 events in the state,
the Texas Mission of Mercy (TMOM). They’ve been doing this since 2001 and have provided dental care to more than 36,000 patients in that time. For the first time in 10 years, they’re bringing their probes, drills and molds to Corpus Christi, where anyone who is unable to normally access these resources, including those affected by hurricane Harvey, can get their teeth serviced for free.
“Our volunteer dental professionals’ primary focus is on relieving pain and preventing infection by providing extractions, fillings, and cleanings,” said Judith Gonzalez, Director of TDASF. “In limited cases, replacing missing front teeth or repairing partial dentures may be available to restore a smile.”
The dental clinic is setting up at Del Mar College West Campus from the 28th through the 29th where dentists and volunteers will be servicing from 5 AM to 5 PM, giving anyone with almost any kind of work schedule a chance to come. The two-day clinic is anticipating about 700 patients receiving treatment.
