Mission Of Mercy


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.

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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

Upcoming MOM Projects CLICK TO VOLUNTEER

Suffolk MOM, Kings Fork Middle School, Suffolk: March 16, 2024
Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center Mini-MOM (Extractions) Abingdon: March 21-22, 2024
Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center Mini-MOM (Dentures) Abingdon: May 16-17, 2024
Special Olympics MOM, University of Richmond Robins Center, Richmond: June 8, 2024
Wise MOM Project, Wise: July 19-20, 2024
Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Clinic (Dentures) Mini-MOM Abingdon: October 17-18, 2024

 

More Details on MOM

Planning a MOM project

Click Here To Volunteer With MOM

Vdaf Success Stories

MB

M.B.

When I was 6 months old I had polio. All the medicine messed my teeth up so badly that they decayed. I used to hide my mouth when I talked. I taught myself to not open my mouth too wide because of my bad teeth. I saw Donated Dental on Facebook and I called. I talked to a wonderful person there. She felt my pain. I'm a pretty woman until I open my mouth. She helped me get my mouth together. My doctor, Dr. Lopez, was wonderful and her assistant Joan was wonderful too. She was so gentle with m
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Get involved and help to provide dental care to Virginia families and children:


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