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2-day Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic: free oral health services for Rhode Islanders in need
2024 Rhode Island Mission of Mercy Scheduled for Oct. 5 and 6
Presented by the Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation, annual two-day dental clinic provides free oral health services to Rhode Islanders in need
The Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation, in partnership with Delta Dental of Rhode Island and Providence Community Health Centers, will host its 2024 Rhode Island Mission of Mercy (RIMOM) free dental clinic on Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6 at 335R Prairie Avenue, in Providence.
The Rhode Island Mission of Mercy is an annual, two-day dental and oral health clinic that provides free oral health services to Rhode Island’s most vulnerable residents. Since its founding, the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy has provided more than $3 million in donated oral health services to Rhode Islanders in need.
Services offered at this year’s clinic will include routine cleanings, X-rays, fillings, root canal treatments on front teeth only and tooth extractions. Plus, for the first time since 2019, the clinic will also offer partial denture services. All services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis by a team of more than 250 licensed dental and medical professionals.
Individuals seeking care may begin to line up at 5:45 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
“As a leading advocate for oral health in our community, the Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation is deeply committed to enhancing access to quality dental care. We believe that by fostering community engagement and supporting initiatives like the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy, we can make a meaningful impact on both oral and overall health for those who need it most,” said Dr. John Kiang, president, RI Oral Health Foundation.
This year marks the 10th Mission of Mercy to take place in Rhode Island since the initiative’s inception in 2012, and the fifth Mission of Mercy to be held at Providence Community Health Centers. Thanks to recent upgrades at the Providence Community Health Clinics campus, the Mission of Mercy will add roughly 9 additional chairs to enhance capacity for restorative services.
“Delta Dental of Rhode Island has been honored to serve as a leading partner of the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy since its inception, and we are continually inspired by the many oral health professionals and community volunteers from across the state who come together to make this clinic a success,” said Joseph R. Perroni, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Rhode Island. “This two-day event makes a profound impact on the lives of hundreds of our neighbors every year, while also underscoring the need for increased access to dental care for vulnerable Rhode Islanders.”
“We are excited to once again serve as the host site for this critical event focused on delivering oral health services to those who might otherwise have no access to care,” said Merrill Thomas, president and CEO, Providence Community Health Centers. “Thank you to the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy, Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation, and Delta Dental of Rhode Island for their continued commitment and partnership to improving access to oral health services.”
In 2023, the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy served nearly 450 patients, completing more than 1,900 procedures valued at roughly $280,000.
In advance of the 2024 clinic, the Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation is currently seeking both oral health professionals and non-medical volunteers to support the clinic, with a particular need for additional volunteers who can serve as interpreters for Spanish-speaking patients.
Those interested in volunteering can learn more and sign up at www.rimom.com.