CORALVILLE, Iowa — The Iowa Mission of Mercy (IMOM) will host its annual free dental clinic next month in Coralville, offering vital dental care to those in need.
Dr. Kobi Voshell, a dentist based in Iowa City, says the event had a profound impact on his career path. “In 2008, I volunteered at the second-ever IMOM event in Cedar Rapids. I was just exploring dentistry at the time,” Voshell recalled. “I spent two days helping however I could—holding hands during injections and guiding patients from station to station.”
That experience solidified his decision to pursue dentistry. “I knew right then—this is what I want to do,” he said. “About ten years later, I was in dental school, learning the skills I now use to treat patients at IMOM. It came full circle.”
Voshell emphasized how IMOM addresses a critical need. “Many people live with untreated dental issues because they can’t afford regular care,” he said. “There’s often shame and fear around going to the dentist. People are scared of the pain, the needle, or the experience itself. That fear, combined with financial barriers, keeps them away.”
This year’s clinic will be held at the Iowa River Landing inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Coralville on September 19 and 20. Organizers expect to treat around 1,000 patients and deliver more than $1 million worth of dental services—all at no cost.
The clinic operates on a first-come, first-served basis and is open to anyone in need.
