The Iowa Mission of Mercy will hold its 16th annual free dental clinic Sept. 19–20 at the Hyatt Regency Coralville, marking the first time the event will be hosted in the city.
The two-day clinic will convert the hotel’s exhibit hall into a temporary dental facility. Approximately 1,000 volunteers, including dental professionals, interpreters, childcare workers and patient escorts, will be on hand to assist patients estimated in the hundreds.
Many of the volunteers will be residents from the Coralville and Iowa City area, a release noted.
“Together, they will provide no-cost dental care to hundreds of patients, most of [whom] have limited financial resources, are uninsured or under-insured, or are otherwise unable to visit a dentist regularly,” the release stated.
Doors open at 6 a.m. both days and patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis, and free child care will be provided on-site.
The clinic will offer cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, x-rays and limited partial dentures. More in-depth services such as crowns, full dentures, implants and wisdom teeth extractions are not available.
Dr. Kobi Voshell, the local committee chair, credited strong community involvement and support from local organizations for making the event possible.
“This event is a remarkable example of what happens when a community comes together with compassion and purpose,” Dr. Voshell said.
Sponsors include Hyatt Regency Coralville, Delta Dental of Iowa, the city of Coralville, Principal Foundation, Patterson Dental, DentaQuest, and others. Organizers estimate more than $340,000 in financial and in-kind donations have been contributed to support the event.
Since its founding in 2008, the Iowa Mission of Mercy has provided more than $13 million in free dental care to over 18,000 people statewide.
