Mission of Mercy Providing Oral Health Care to Virginians in Need

2. Ralph L. Howell, Jr., DDS, MAGD Mission of MercyProviding Oral Health Care to Virginians in Need

3. Oral Health Concerns • Dental caries is the single most common chronic disease in childhood • 5 times more common than asthma, 7 times more common than hay fever • Chronic diseases such as diabetes compromise oral health care and exacerbate existing health problems U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  A National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health.  Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.  NIH Publication No. 03-5303, May 2003.

4. Need in Virginia • One-in-five Virginians live in an underserved area and lack access to or means of dental care • Over 3 million Virginians do not have dental insurance • Only 71 of Virginia’s 135 communities have a dental safety net clinic-3 in Western Tidewater MOM Guidebook. http://vdaf.org/images/stories/mom/brochures/MOM_Guidebook_FINAL.pdf

5. NIH’s Call to Action to Promote Oral Health • To promote oral health • To improve quality of life • To eliminate oral health disparities U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  A National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health.  Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.  NIH Publication No. 03-5303, May 2003.

6. Mission of Mercy (MOM) Project • Created by VDA Executive Director Terry Dickinson • Providing care since July 2000 • MOM projects were designed to bring free dental care to communities of uninsured and underinsured • Virginia participates in 5-8 projects/ year • Projects range from 1-3 days • Over 26 states have replicated the MOM model to bring care to those in need across the country

7. Typical MOM Project • On average, a 1-day project sees 500 patients and utilizes 250 volunteers • Treatment ranges from extractions, fillings, and routine dental examinations • Each patient receives basic health screenings which monitor blood pressure and blood sugar

8. First MOM Project—Wise

9. VDH Van for treating Children

10. Larrell Denture Crew--Wise

11. Wise County MOM Project

12. Eastern Shore MOM Project

13. Eastern Shore MOM Project

14. Break Room on Eastern Shore

15. Dental Students—Eastern Shore MOM Project

16. Volunteer Registration

17. Gloucester MOM Project

18. Gloucester MOM Project

19. Roanoke MOM Project

20. MOM in Suffolk • March 7-8, 2014 at KFMS • 50 chair project- offering basic medical screenings, oral health screenings, and provide care to at least 500 patients • Our goal is to reach those uninsured and underinsured, the elderly and disabled within the Suffolk area and the surrounding communities

22. Who can receive care? • Adult Patients • Children—possibility

23. What services are offered? • Medical Screening • Dental Screening • Cleanings • Fillings • Extractions • Limited other services

24. Current Needs • Financial Support • Volunteer Support • Food

25. Who can Volunteer? • Business Professionals • Medical Professionals • Dental Professionals • Support Professionals • Service Professionals • Youth Support

26. How to Volunteer • WWW.VDAF.ORG • Serve on the Committee • Lauren Alphin (lauren@rlhdds.com)

27. Sponsors • Obici Healthcare Foundation • Sentara Obici Hospital • Suffolk Public Schools • City of Suffolk • Western Tidewater Free Clinic • Virginia Dental Association • Virginia Dental Association Foundation • Virginia Commonwealth University

28. Kings Fork Middle SchoolMarch 7-8, 2014

29. MOM: Changing Lives • Since 2000, over 50,000 patients have been provided with over $26 million • Improved overall health has been recorded as a result of treatment received via MOM