RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Dental students will volunteer at a free dental clinic held at the UVA-Wise Convocation Center next week. This event marks the clinic’s 26th anniversary.
The Virginia Dental Association Foundation (VDAF) announced that the Mission of Mercy dental clinic will take place in Wise from Friday, July 18, to Saturday, July 19. The clinic will offer free preventive, restorative, and surgical dental care to residents of southwest Virginia.
The clinic will operate from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Patients are encouraged to arrive early. Pre-registration begins at noon on Thursday, July 17.
Tara Quinn, Executive Director of the Virginia Dental Association Foundation, said, “We look forward to returning to Wise County to serve the community. If you haven’t seen a dentist in over six months or are experiencing oral pain, we hope you will join us. We are grateful for our volunteer dental teams who provide compassionate care to everyone.”
The nonprofit said that care will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Free services will include cleanings, fillings, oral surgery, and X-rays during the two-day event.
The clinic was first started in Wise 26 years ago by Dr. Terry Dickinson. This year, about 300 dentists, dental professionals, and volunteers from the Virginia Dental Association, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and community partners are expected to participate.
According to the association, oral health is improving in the region. Data from Mission of Mercy shows that in 2024, dentists performed 989 tooth extractions, compared to 3,368 extractions in 2016. This is a 70% decrease over eight years.