Links & FAQs
- Hospitality Arrangements
- America's Dentists Care Foundation Missions of Mercy
- Calvert County Health Department
- American Dental Association
- Maryland State Dental Association
- Virginia Mission of Mercy
- St. Mary's County Health Department
- Charles County Department of Health
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a “Mission of Mercy”(or MOM)?It is a gathering of volunteer dental professionals who along with a volunteer staff of several hundred hold free, two day dental clinics at locations around the country.
Q. When did MOM begin?
In July 2000, the Virginia Dental Health Foundation launched the Missipn of Mercy (MOM) Project. The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Denistry in conjunction with the Virginia Dental Assocaiton and the Virginia Health Care Foundation formed a partnership to provide dental care for the uninsured and underserved poulations of Virginia. Since then thousands of patients in a growing number of states have been served. Virginia and Texas run multiple events each year.
Cumberland was the site for the first Maryland MOM, October 29-30, 2010.
Q. What is a MOM event like?
Every event takes on its own personality, however there are some common traits:
- over 100 volunteer dental professionals
- several hundred lay-volunteers
- lines of patients forming in the middle of the night
- all services provided on a first come first serve basis
- doors open at 5:00 AM and close normally a few hours later as the facility fills up with patients
- about 1,000 patients a day will be treated
There is no cost to the patient, no insurance form, nothing. It is free.
Q. Who pays for everything?
The dental organizations of the state where the event is held raise private donations to cover all the costs. Donations may come in the form of funds; supplies; donated meals and/or snacks; tables and chairs; badges, forms; and a variety of other support items. If you'd like to donate, see our Donations page.
Q. What services are provided?
This may vary slightly but cleanings, fillings, extractions, some oral surgery, root canals (at some locations) denture repair, oral hygiene education.
Q. Who is eligible to be treated?
Anyone and everyone, 19 years old or older, no restrictions unless the patient can’t be treated because of a medical reason.
Q. What if the patient needs pain medication or antibiotics?
There is always a pharmacy at the event to dispense free pain medications and antiobiotics as prescribed by the treating dentist.
Q. What if a patient needs additional treatment?
To assure that all patients have follow-up access, arrangements are made with local dentists to care for those individuals, if necessary.
Q. What is the role of the America’s Dentists Care Foundation?
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to providing and maintaining all the equipment necessary to put on a “MOM” event. In addition, we provide the methods for organizing the volunteers necessary to treat 2,000 patients over a two-day span and the expertise to organize, set-up, run, and tear-down the event.
Q. Will there be a MOM project in St. Mary's County?
Three local dentists, Dr. Garner Morgan, Dr. Martin Barley and Dr. John Knowlton volunteered at the Western Maryland Misison of Mercy and now are taking initial planning steps to consider holding a MOM in St. Mary's County for adults.
