Group to Hold Free Dental Clinic in Woodstock

WOODSTOCK, Ga. - Georgians will be able to get free dental care this weekend in a two day event in Woodstock. 

Mission of Mercy is coming to the metro Atlanta area and is to preparing to treat more than 2,000 patients who can't pay for dental treatment.

Taking care of your teeth is one of the most important things you can do to maintain good overall health. Yet many, because of hard times, don't have dental insurance. But a group of volunteer dentists are stepping up to make sure you have something to smile about.

It's one of the first things to go when times are tough - your smile. But for thousands of Georgians, that missing smile is due to serious tooth decay and disrepair. And when you're unemployed or underemployed, dental care is put on the back burner.

"We really don't have a great safety net for adults anywhere in the country. In Georgia, we've got a great safety net for children but we do not have one for adults," said Dr. Karyn stockwell of the Georgia Mission of Mercy.

It's the reason metro Atlanta dentists Dr. Karyn Stockwell and Dr. Jonathan Dubin, along with the Georgia Dental Association have worked more than a year to bring mission of mercy to town. It's a two-day, 100-chair dental clinic providing free dental care to adults who would otherwise be unable to pay for treatment.

"If you are trying to hire someone and someone comes in and they're missing some teeth, it's very hard to hire that person when someone else comes in with a full set of teeth," said Dr. Jonathan Dubin of Mission of Mercy Atlanta.

First Baptist Church of Woodstock will be transformed into a massive dental clinic ready and willing to diagnose and treat any dental issue.

"We'll see abscesses, swollen jaws, impacted teeth, lots of cavities. Some people all they need is a deep cleaning. Whatever we can do there, we will take care of.," said Dubin.

Missions of Mercy have brought out thousands in states like Oregon, Wisconsin and Mississippi --people willing to wait hours and in some cases days in line. Along with treatment, patients will be educated on dental care.

"Most detal disease is preventable, that's the shame in all this is this is preventable. We want them to know that they can control that," said Stockwell.

But the more than 11,000 volunteer dentists and hygienists say they're main goal is to relieve suffering and restore smiles.

"To see that guy smile after Karyn placed that partial denture in, that said everything. That just makes it all worthwhile," said Dubin.

The Georgia Mission of Mercy is a free dental clinic and will be held on Friday, August 12, and Saturday, August 13, 2011, at the First Baptist Church of Woodstock, 11905 Highway 92, in Woodstock.

Doors open at 5 a.m. both days. Patients will be seen on a first come, first served basis so arrive early! 

More information visit: http://www.gadental.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=246