People across Connecticut walked away with healthier smiles this weekend. That's thanks to a free dental clinic on UConn Health's campus.
CT Mission of Mercy (CTMOM) has been carrying out this project across the state for 15 years. For the first time, they partnered with the UConn School of Dental Medicine, transforming a few hospital floors into a clinic with nearly 200 dental chairs.
"Good oral health is the key to good overall health, and we're all here to help health and well-being of individuals and communities in need," said UConn School of Medicine Dean Dr. Steven Lepowsky.
This year, the goal is to help nearly 1,600 people who might not be able to afford the cost of dental care.
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"I need some fillings. I have a couple broken teeth," said Vietnam veteran Jack Mckeon, of Torrington. This was Mckeon's third time at a CTMOM dental clinic. "It's a real service to the community," said Mckeon.
Hundreds of providers are offering a full range of services, including cleanings, x-rays, exams, and fillings. Services such as root canals and dentures are also offered, but are limited to the front teeth.
"I live in jersey, I practice in New York City, but I'm licensed in Connecticut, so I came up for the weekend to help out," said Dr. Angela Marwaha, who volunteered for CTMOM when she was in dental school. "I feel very fortunate that I was able to get this degree and have this skill set. So, if I can give back, it's nice to be able to do that," said Marwaha.
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Patients were seen on a first-come, first-served basis and did not need to provide insurance.
"What we find after one of these projects, we find that the visits to the emergency rooms for dental projects decreases for a period of time," said CTMOM Co-chair Dr. Lawrence Levy.
The clinic reached full capacity around 3 p.m. on Saturday and also reached capacity on Sunday.
