Key funding partners:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: April 17, 2014 Jeffrey E. Dodge, DMD

R.I. Mission of Mercy chair(401) 762-3044drjedodge@earthlink.net

State’s 3rd Annual Free Public Dental Health Clinic to Provide Free Oral Health Care to 1,000 Patients in Need

Two-Day Rhode Island Mission of Mercy Event to be Held May 31-June 1, 2014, at CCRI’s Flanagan Campus in Lincoln; Dental and community volunteers needed.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation will host its 3rd Mission of Mercy Free dental clinic. This year’s goal is to provide free dental services to 1000 patients.

The two-day clinic will be held May 31 and June 1 at the Dental Hygiene Clinic at the

Community College of Rhode Island’s Flanagan Campus in Lincoln.

Doors open at 6 a.m. and will remain open until the clinic reaches capacity.

“Accessing affordable dental care continues to be a challenge for many members of our

community,” said Dr. Jeffrey Dodge, DMD, Mission of Mercy co-chair. “The Mission of Mercy

clinic is an annual effort to provide much-needed dental care for those who are uninsured,

underinsured or otherwise unable to get the dental care they so desperately need.”

In 2013, nearly 600 healthcare professionals and community volunteers staffed the Mission of

Mercy event and treated 929 patients.

“Good dental care is essential to overall health and wellness, and yet many struggling families are

deterred by the high cost of treatment,” said U.S. Congressman Jim Langevin, D-RI. “Rhode

Island Mission of Mercy identified that need and filled it, and I am proud to support a program

that last year alone provided more than $525,000 worth of free care to more than 900 patients

across the state.”

The two-day clinic provided:

372 fillings

549 extractions

284 cleanings

23 root canals

56 removable partial dentures

$527,738 in free dental services

The goal of the Mission of Mercy clinic is to address patients’ most urgent oral health needs,

placing a high priority on patients suffering from infections or pain. Dental services will include

cleanings, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, X-rays, oral health education, fillings, tooth

extractions, some root canal treatments and minor denture repairs.

Funding the Clinic

As in past years, Delta Dental of Rhode Island is a premier funding partner for the Rhode Island

Mission of Mercy clinic through its charitable endowment, the Delta Dental of Rhode Island

Fund, and is providing $60,000 in support this year. In addition, Delta Dental employees

volunteer throughout the two-day event.

“The Rhode Island Mission of Mercy clinic continues to make a difference in the lives of so many

people who might not otherwise get the oral care they need, and we’re proud to support this important

community service,” said President & CEO Joseph A. Nagle.

The Community College of Rhode Island is the clinic’s other premier sponsor. The college will

again host the event in its 24-chair dental facility, which features digital radiography, a

sterilization center and electronic dental records. The college’s in-kind contribution to last year's

Mission of Mercy event totaled over $99,000.00

CCRI dental faculty, staff and students also volunteer at the clinic.

“Part of CCRI’s mission is to respond to community needs, so we are pleased to support this fine

event at our state-of-art dental facility once again,” said CCRI President Ray Di Pasquale. “We

are proud that our sponsorship has helped nearly 2,000 patients over the past two year and are

excited to welcome as many as 1,000 more to our Flanagan Campus this year to receive the dental

care they need and deserve.”

How You Can Help

In addition to dentists and other dental and medical professionals, community volunteers are

needed to assist in both clinical and nonclinical activities. To register, visit the Rhode Island

Mission of Mercy website, www.rimom.org.

About the Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation

The Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation was established in 2011 with the mission of providing

funding and resources to improve oral health in the state of Rhode Island, and the Mission of Mercy

is the Foundation’s signature event.

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