Free Dental Days Coming to Cedar Rapids This Fall

By Cindy Hadish and Justin Foss

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By Richard Pratt

Story Created: May 6, 2010 at 7:18 AM CST

Story Updated: May 6, 2010 at 4:25 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - More than 1,500 Iowans will receive free dental care when the Iowa Mission of Mercy comes to Cedar Rapids next fall.

Dates of the event will be announced this afternoon, May 6.

This will be the first time the free care will be offered in Cedar Rapids.

The first Mission of Mercy in 2008 in Waterloo and last year’s event in Newton were met with an overwhelming response.

Dentists and other professionals from across the state, along with volunteers, provided $1.4 million of free dental care to nearly 3,000 patients at those two sessions.

Today’s announcement will be at 2 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center, where the event also will be held this fall.

Organizers expect more than 1,000 dentists and others to provide free oral health care to more than 1,500 Iowans during the two-day clinic in Cedar Rapids.

State dental leaders note that many Iowans lack dental insurance, including those who are employed or with other medical insurance. Clinics that offer free dental care, including the Community Health Free Clinic in Cedar Rapids, often have long waiting lists.

Iowa Mission of Mercy is open to everybody.

Patients do not need to meet any eligibility requirements or pre-register.

Volunteer dentists, dental hygienists and dental assists treat patients on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Iowa Dental Association received the prestigious Summit Award — the highest honor given out by the American Society of Association Executives — for the first Iowa Mission of Mercy.

For more information, see www.IowaMOM.org

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