If you need dental care but can’t afford it, take note. The Florida Dental Association Foundation will offer free cleanings, fillings, extractions, pediatric dentistry, X-rays, root canals and dentures at the RP Funding Center on Friday and Saturday.
The two-day Florida Mission of Mercy clinic hopes to deliver professional dental care to 2,000 people. The doors open at 7 a.m., but patients are advised to arrive early because it’s first-come, first-served.
This is the first time the annual event has been in Lakeland. Previous clinics have been in Tampa, Jacksonville, Pensacola, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tallahassee and West Palm Beach. Since 2014, nearly 14,000 patients have received $14.6 million worth of donated care.
Who can go? There are no income requirements. Patients can be uninsured, underinsured or insured. However, they must be willing to wait in line and cannot have any medically compromising conditions. Children under 18 must be accompanied by parent or guardian at all times.
Photo identification and insurance information is not required. Volunteer interpreters will be available to assist in some languages.
What to expect: Organizers said people should eat a good meal beforehand and plan to be at the RP Funding Center for several hours. After registration, a medical professional will do a health screening and check blood pressure, blood-clotting and blood sugar levels.
Patients will receive a full panoramic X-ray to determine their most urgent need. Treatment is limited to one quadrant of the patient’s mouth.
Not offered: The clinic will not offer braces, crowns, implants, gum surgery, bone grafting, extraction of wisdom teeth or tooth whitening. Sedation and narcotics will not be available; only local anesthetic.
Who provides the care? About 300 volunteer dentists, hygienists and dental assistants provide the majority of care. In addition, some fourth-year dental students may treat patients under the supervision of faculty members. Participating schools include:
- University of Florida College of Dentistry
- Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine
- LECOM School of Dental Medicine
Preregistration for veterans: Military veterans can bypass some of the lines by completing the registration, medical assessment, X-ray and treatment plan on Thursday afternoon. Appointments are available between 2 and 4 p.m. Then treatment will be provided Friday morning on a first-come, first-served basis.
Why it matters: Dental health plays critical role in well-being. Dental pain can keep adults out of work and kids out of school. Florida has more people living in dental deserts than any other state. Of the 67 counties in Florida, only one has enough dentists to treat all patients. About 6 million Floridians lack adequate access to dental care, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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What a wonderful service to our community. Thanks to whomever is responsible for this year’s stop in Lakeland.
Come volunteer with us! Carol Ebersole, MD
I show up at 7:15 a.m. on today’s Saturday June the 1st and the soon that I was going to get online they told me that they shot that line it was no fair for me because I show up on time they say first come first serve they told me that they give appointments yesterday for the people they couldn’t see that people that they couldn’t see they couldn’t come back the next day since it is first come first seat it was not fair for me that I have to take time off to show up at 7:15 in there for them to tell me that they shot the line and they won’t be able to see me Even on the news Saturday on Fox 13 they continue saying that services free and the first come first serve
Why you give appointments they say first come first serve if it was going to be appointments you should have put it on the website so people will show up yesterday and make an appointment
It is not that I don’t appreciate what you guys doing I really really appreciate it but also I was really looking for to be seen