Free Dental Clinic for Uninsured Gets Help from UNC Wilmington Students April 29-30

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wilmington, N.C. -- Students from the University of North Carolina Wilmington's pre-dental program will assist regional dental professionals at the Wilmington, N. C. Missions of Mercy (MOM) dental clinic, which will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 29 and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1401 S. College Road.

Student members of UNCW's Pre-Dental Club will assist dental professionals as they provide free dental cleanings, fillings and extractions to low income children and adults. Media are invited to preview the clinic by capturing UNC Wilmington pre-dental club students as they set up dental equipment on Thursday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or to attend and cover the clinic itself on Friday and Saturday.

Area residents who do not have dental insurance and whose family income level is 200 percent or more below the National Poverty Index are eligible for the free clinic. For more information about eligibility, visit the NC Missions of Mercy website at www.ncmissionsofmercy.org or call 910.791.4092.

Registration and initial examinations of patients will begin at the church at 6 a.m. both days. Patients will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis. Last year, the MOM Wilmington clinic provided free dental care to more than 700 patients in two days.

Dr. Robert Plage, Wilmington dentist and clinic coordinator, said, "In today's economy, there are many people whose funds are being stretched just trying to survive. It is important to have this clinic to help relieve dental pain and to provide people who have limited incomes the opportunity for dental checkups, cleanings and fillings."

The clinic is sponsored by NC Missions of Mercy, Cape Fear Memorial Foundation, Wilmington Tri-County Dental Society, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Wilmington South Rotary and International Paper Co.

Media contacts:
Emily Jones, UNCW media relations, 910.962.3171 or jonesel@uncw.edu
Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 910.791.4092