‘Mission of Mercy’ offers dental care to those in need April 28-29

‘Mission of Mercy’ offers dental care to those in need April 28-29

This week, I want to direct your attention to an event that could help hundreds of families in our district.

The 2017 Arkansas Mission of Mercy (ArMOM) will be held in Jonesboro at the ASU Convocation Center on April 28-29, 2017.

ArMOM is an annual two-day free dental clinic sponsored by the Arkansas State Dental Association for underserved Arkansans. All services are provided free of charge by members of the Arkansas State Dental Association, assisted by a host of volunteers.

ArMOM provides dental care for the relief of pain to underserved Arkansans, many of whom are from working families who do not have access or cannot afford dental insurance. They have provided thousands of Arkansans with much needed services over the years.

The event will begin at 6 a.m. on the 28th. Services will include cleanings, fillings, and extractions. There is no income eligibility requirement.

All children must be accompanied by a legal guardian until all treatment is complete. If a guardian needs treatment for themselves, there must be an additional adult present with his/her children while the guardian is being treated. The guardian cannot be treated the same day as their children unless there is another adult to watch the children.

Patients will be seen on a first come first serve basis.

You are encouraged to bring a list of your current medications.

Dentist visits can do more than keep your smile attractive – they can also tell dentists a lot about your overall health, including whether or not you may be at risk for chronic disease.

New research suggests that the health of your mouth mirrors the condition of your body as a whole. When your mouth is healthy, chances are your overall health is good, too.

On the other hand, if you have poor oral health, you may have other health problems.

If you need a dental care, I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity.

And if you don't need services, consider an opportunity to volunteer. It takes hundreds of volunteers to provide this service to the community. From dental personnel to patient escorts, your expertise could be put to good work this weekend.

For more information on what to expect as a patient or if you want to volunteer visit www.arkansasmissionofmercy. org.

From State Representative Deborah Ferguson