Before the UConn School of Dental Medicine hosts the Connecticut Mission of Mercy free dental clinic in November (CT MOM), students with the School of Dental Medicine recently volunteered at the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy dental clinic (RIMOM) in Providence to provide free dental care to patients in need.
Twenty-seven UConn students, under the leadership of alumni Dr. Deborah Fuller (Class of 1995, AEGD 1996) and Dr. Brian Gaudette (Class of 1993, AEGD 1994, Endo 1998), helped serve over 455 patients over the volunteer weekend.
“Even though our country’s oral health has greatly improved over the past several decades, not all Americans have equal access to these improvements,” Fuller said. “Some racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups have worse oral health as a result of the social determinants of health—conditions in the places where people are born, live, learn, work, and play. Some groups of people can’t afford to pay out-of-pocket for dental care, do not have private or public dental insurance, or can’t get time off from work to get to dental care. Others live in communities where they don’t have access to fluoridated water and school sealant programs, healthy foods, and public transportation to get to dental appointments. Mission of Mercy programs provide free dental care to the uninsured, underinsured or anyone who cannot access dental care. It’s essentially a mission trip in our own backyards.”
In addition to the over 455 patients served, volunteers at the RIMOM clinic performed over 1,920 procedures—with the value of free services totaling $273,000. With the sheer volume of patients served, the students played a big role in helping deliver care efficiently and effectively.
“Patients had shown up and waited outside the facility to be seen since midnight; it was an important reminder that there is a great need for dental care in our own communities,” said third-year student Tetiana Winiarskyji. “An immense amount of dental care was delivered over the span of a single weekend, and there was so much gratefulness in the atmosphere. Volunteering alongside all the amazing Rhode Island dentists at RIMOM was so rewarding, and I am looking forward to CTMOM in just a few short weeks!”
Delivering free care alongside seasoned dentists not only provides students with a valuable learning experience, but also reminds them why they went to dental school in the first place.
“Mission of Mercy has changed the lives of many people both near and far, and is a true representation of what we can do when we come together for the common good,” said third-year student Jerry Gargano. “Seeing how thankful patients are after their visit; whether it’s a cleaning, filling, root canal or extraction, reminds me of why I chose to go to dental school. To combine this feeling of gratitude with the unique opportunity to get one-on-one coaching from experienced dentists is something truly special for a dental student.”
On Veterans’ Day weekend, the UConn School of Dental Medicine is hosting CT MOM at the UConn Health Farmington campus, where students, faculty, and providers from all across the state will provide free dental care to hundreds of underserved and underinsured patients. Learn more, including how to get involved.
