Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas Mission of Mercy Two-Day Event to Provide No-Cost Dental Care

DALLAS—February 11, 2004—Baylor College of Dentistry will partner with Texas Dentists for Healthy Smiles, the Texas Dental Association and the Dallas County Dental Society to provide dental care during the Texas Mission of Mercy event Feb. 20 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Feb. 21 from 7 a.m. to noon at The Science Place in Dallas Fair Park. All care will be provided free of charge.
TMOM brings restorative dental care to underserved areas of Texas. Hundreds of dental professionals and other volunteers from across the state converge for several days at the TMOM- designated site to donate their professional services. Their goal is to relieve immediate pain and restore smiles at no cost to those who could not otherwise afford it. In past years, more than 1,000 patients received treatment during the two-day event.
Adults will be the primary recipients of care during Friday’s event. The Saturday event will be linked with the American Dental Association’s national “Give Kids a Smile” campaign. To schedule an appointment for the Friday or Saturday, call (214) 828-8422.
“This event offers an opportunity for BCD to partner with our colleagues in local and state dental associations to provide much-needed care for the people of our community,” said Dr. Dan Jones, professor and chair of public health sciences. “We are proud to be able participate because the combined resources of these groups make it possible to do more than any of us could alone.”
There will be four stations set up at The Science Place, beginning with registration where patients’ medical histories will be taken. Next, patients will go to the triage area where their oral health needs will be assessed, treatment plans developed
and necessary X-rays taken. They will then be taken to the patient waiting area and proceed to the treatment area where dentists will provide necessary care in one of the 28 operatories (dental chairs).
Volunteers include members of the Dallas County Dental Society and members of the practicing dental community who will provide dental care on both days. The entire BCD pediatric dentistry department will be on hand to provide care during the Feb. 21 event. Other BCD faculty, staff and students in all dental and dental hygiene classes will participate as well.
Founded in 1905, Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, a component of The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, is a nationally recognized center for oral health sciences education, research, specialized patient care and continuing dental education. The A&M System HSC serves the state as a distributed, statewide health science center that is present in communities throughout Texas.
Contact: LaDawn Brock
(214) 828-8214