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.
An estimated 3.8 million Virginians - more than 47% of our total population - do not have dental insurance according to the Virginia Health Care Foundation. Sixty-nine (66) localities in the Commonwealth have no dental safety net provider. Of the 67 localities that do, many of the clinics operate on a part-time basis and are overwhelmed by the number of calls for help. Without access to affordable dental care, many people -- especially those who are low-income, underinsured, disabled or seniors -- are left to suffer pain, discomfort, and embarrassment with nowhere else to turn. 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 mobile clinics in strategic locations across the State, providing preventive, restorative, and surgical dental treatments to more than 2,000 low-income individuals each year.
Upcoming MOM Projects CLICK TO VOLUNTEER
2022 Chesapeake Care mini-MOM: March 24-26, 2022
2022 Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center mini-MOM: March 24-26, 2022
2022 Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center mini-MOM: June 2-4, 2022
2022 Wise MOM Project: July 22-23, 2022 - DETAILS
2022 Piedmont Smiles / Fauquier County MOM Project: October 14-16, 2022 - DETAILS
2022 Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center mini-MOM: October 27-29, 2022
View A Video of VDAF Featured on Comcast Newsmakers
View A Video of MOM Yorktown (film credit: Ost Haus)
More Details on MOM
Planning a MOM project
Click Here To Volunteer With MOM
2021 Special Olympics MOM Project: June 2021 – Date TBD
2021 Wise MOM Project: July 9-10, 2021
2021 Fauquier County: October 2, 2021
2021 Homeless Connect mini-MOM: November 2021 – Date TBD
Our Success Stories
