Oral health is more than a nice smile.  Having good oral health improves a person’s ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, and eat.  Plus, tooth decay and gum disease have been linked with other health problems like heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as premature births.  Given the link between oral diseases and other systemic health problems, it’s critical to maintain good oral health. 

To help folks who desperately need dental care, the Central Arizona Dental Society Foundation will host its first AZ Mission of Mercy event at the Arizona Fairgrounds December 7-8 using portable dental equipment and 1,000 volunteers.   Dental screenings and services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge.  About $1M in free care is expected to be delivered to 2,000 patients (both adults and kids).  They’ll focus on basic dental care such as fillings, extractions and cleanings.  More than 70 Mission of Mercy dental programs have been conducted since 2000- providing free dental care to local residents who otherwise couldn’t get care. We’re supporting the event through Title V funds and providing health information and resources. 

Thanks go out to the following folks from Team ADHS that have volunteered to help out at this important event: Anna Alonzo, Amber Asbury, Stacy Beauregard, Brian Beebe, Elena Beeman, Anita Betancourt, Karen Boswell, Jennifer Botsford, Tracy Chisler, Omar Contreras, Juanita Dailey, Ali De La Trinidad, Willie Dennis, Erica Ferguson, John Fiorentino, Jan Ford, Amanda Gainey, Tiana Galindo, Ann Gardner, Cecilia Gaytan-Newberry, Margaret Hensell, Victoria Mieth, Kimberly Oneill, Elie Partida, Nicholas Pigg, Carmen Ramirez, David Ramirez, Deborah Reardon, Matthew Roach, Crystal Rodriguez, Ruthann Smejkal, Nicole Thurlow, Tina Wagner, Julia Wacloff, Virginia Warren, and Chelley Weber.  Also, thanks go out to Maricopa County Public Health for organizing the vaccine clinic that’ll be there too.