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.

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 (69) localities in the Commonwealth have no dental safety net provider. Of the 66 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, 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 4,000 low-income individuals each year.

MOM Sites Map