Mission Of Mercy

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The Mission of Mercy (MOM) projects are conducted in identified, underserved areas of the state where there are not enough dental practitioners to adequately address the oral health needs of the community.

The VDA Foundation thanks the following organizations for their generous support.

While more people can now receive oral health care through public programs in Virginia, there remains a shortage of pediatric dentists and Medicaid providers in many areas. For older adults, Medicare currently provides little or no dental coverage. Low-income adults without other options may turn to the dental safety net – community health centers and free and charitable clinics. While there are 100 dental safety net sites in Virginia, many only offer care on a part-time basis and must book appointments far in advance. Without access to affordable preventative care and dental treatment, thousands of people suffer with discomfort, broken teeth, difficulty chewing and speaking, and embarrassment associated with dental disease. To address the overwhelming need for access to free oral health care, Dr. Terry Dickinson, former executive director of the Virginia Dental Association, created the Mission of Mercy (MOM) program in 2000 to provide high-quality dental care for underserved Virginians. The MOM program operates pop-up clinics in strategic locations across the State, providing preventive, restorative, and surgical dental treatments to more than 1,000 low-income individuals each year.

MOM Sites Map