DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – This weekend, a critical event is taking place in Daytona Beach, aimed at providing free dental care to thousands of Floridians who may not otherwise have access to it.
The Florida Dental Association Foundation is hosting its 10th annual Florida Mission of Mercy event at Mainland High School. Over two days, an estimated 2,000 patients will receive comprehensive dental care at no cost, including cleanings, fillings, root canals and extractions.
“There are a lot of patients in Florida living in pain with infections, and they just aren’t getting the access to care that they need. We’re super grateful for this event, as it allows us to help those patients get out of pain and get the care they desperately need,” said Dr. Brenna Kever, a volunteer dentist at the event.
“The mouth is the portal to the rest of the body,” said licensed dental hygienist Catherine Cabanzon, who is also one of the founders of the bipartisan coalition Floridians for Dental Access. “There are 67 diseases and conditions which are associated with the mouth.”
In Florida, it is estimated that more than 6 million people live in what is known as a “dental desert,” a place where the population-to-dentist ratio is greater than 5,000 to 1, with Floridians for Dental Access identifying 65 of the state’s 67 counties facing a full or partial shortage of dental access.
Unlike other medical emergencies, major dental issues typically cannot be treated at the ER with most hospitals only equipped to provide pain relief and antibiotics.
“If people are not getting proper treatment and prevention the next tooth will get it, and the next tooth, and this is a vicious cycle. We can do a lot better, we are not a third-world country, and we should be able to do better,” Cabanzon said.
The Florida Mission of Mercy aims to alleviate dental pain and provide critical treatment to those who cannot afford it. Organizers stress the importance of arriving early, as it’s a first-come, first-served event, with doors opening at 7 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
“It’s wonderful, and it’s really fulfilling. The difference that one day of care can make for people who can’t afford it otherwise is life-changing. You can see the gratitude on their faces,” Kever said.
This year’s event also includes a Veterans’ First Initiative, which allows local veterans to pre-register for priority care. This special initiative ensures that veterans in need of dental services will receive the assistance they deserve at the event.
Last year, the event provided more than $2 million in free dental care, and organizers expect even more this year with hundreds of volunteers from the Florida Dental Association Foundation coming together to make it all happen.
Event details
When:
Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22
Doors open at 7 a.m.
Where:
Mainland High School
1255 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
First-come, first-served
Arrive early for the best access.
NOTE: Enter school property from the side entrance on Clyde Morris Boulevard, not the main entrance on International Speedway Boulevard.
For more information, click here.
