HCC campus hosts second annual NC MOM Dental Clinic

More than 400 served during event

North Carolina Missions of Mercy (NC MOM) held a free adult dental clinic at The Centre at Halifax Community College (HCC) on March 25-26, 2011. NC MOM is an outreach program of the N.C. Dental Society. This was the second year that HCC hosted the event.

The clinic, sponsored by HCC and the North Carolina Dental Health Fund and co-sponsored by The Daily Herald, treated 435 patients over a two-day period and offered dental cleanings, restorations, and extractions. An estimated $221,913 worth of free dental care was performed and more than 300 volunteers served during the clinic. Last year, the clinic assisted 339 patients.

This year’s NC MOM clinic also featured a new state-of-the-art mobile X-ray van. The van, made possible by a grant from The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, was equipped with the latest digital X-ray technology that improves diagnostics and speeds the treatment process.

The goals of NC MOM are to provide free dental care to as many needy persons within North Carolina as possible and to involve as much of the dental community of the state in the treatment of the needy as possible. Volunteers are dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and scores of general volunteers from all areas of the state.

NC MOM is entirely a grassroots effort, dependent on an all volunteer staff, members of which donate their time and talents with funding from grants and donations. Since its beginning in 2003, the program has received national and statewide recognition.