On June 12th and 13th, individuals and families unable to access care in a traditional dental home sought treatment at the Wisconsin Dental Association’s (WDA) Mission of Mercy (MOM) clinic. Delta Dental of Wisconsin was proud to be involved with another successful MOM event. 

A total of 4,924 critically needed dental procedures were performed during the two-day clinic, including:

• 843 X-rays
• 1,316 fillings
• 1,069 teeth pulled
• 591 cleanings
• 634 sealant/fluoride treatments
• 30 root canals and therapeutic pulpotomies
• 161 full and/or partial dentures
• One-on-one oral hygiene instruction

Why WDA Mission of Mercy Matters:

• The numbers speak for themselves.

More than 14,300 children and adults have received in excess of $8.12 million in care at WDA Mission of Mercy events since 2009. This demonstrates the unmet need that exists in our communities.

• The smiles are real.

One patient wrote, “You are lengthening my life because I realize my dental pain could be infection causing heart damage. Thank you so much…brings me to tears just realizing how much money you are saving me that I don’t have and care I would not be able to afford.”

• It’s more than “day-of” dental care.

Many Wisconsin residents continue to face barriers to dental care. The Mission of Mercy is not a permanent solution to the much larger problems of access and availability, but it is a way to assure that at least some people are able to address critical care that could impact overall health.  It is our hope that someday more permanent solutions will ensure that events like this will no longer be needed in Wisconsin. 

 

But what happens year-round when someone needs urgent dental care and is experiencing financial difficulty or temporarily loses dental coverage? Wisconsin has a number of oral health clinics and resources throughout the state to help address ongoing dental needs. Here are just a few situated around the state:

Safety Net Dental Clinics that have received grants from Delta Dental of Wisconsin 

Visit the Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation website for a full list of Safety Net Clinics.

Ashland (Ashland County) – Northlakes Community Health Center

Iron River (Bayfield County) – Northlakes Community Health Center

Hayward (Sawyer County) – Northlakes Community Health Center

Eau Claire (Eau Claire County) – Chippewa Valley Technical College

Stevens Point (Portage County) – Ministry Dental Center

Appleton (Outagamie County) – Tri-County Dental

Sturgeon Bay (Door County) – Ministry Door County Medical Center Dental Clinic

Green Bay (Brown County) – Oral Health Partnership

Green Bay (Brown County) – St. Mary’s Hospital (oral surgery for children)

Green Bay (Brown County) – Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Janesville (Rock County) – HealthNet of Rock County

Whitewater (Walworth County) – Affordable Dental Care

Monroe (Green County) – Fowler Memorial Dental Clinic

Waukesha (Waukesha County) – Waukesha County Community Dental

Beaver Dam (Dodge County) – Church Health Services

Manitowoc (Manitowoc County) – Lakeshore Community Health Care

Milwaukee (Milwaukee County) – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Dental Clinic

Milwaukee (Milwaukee County) – Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Dental Clinics

Milwaukee (Milwaukee County) – NextDoor Foundation Dental Clinic

Milwaukee (Milwaukee County) – Bread of Healing

Madison (Dane County) – Access Community Health Center

Madison (Dane County) – Madison Dental Initiative

If you don’t find a clinic in close proximity, please contact your local county health department for a list of available resources near you.