Free dental services held by Texas Mission of Mercy

Over 700 patients will receive free dental care including cleanings, fillings, and extractions during a Texas Mission of Mercy(TMOM) popup clinic Sep. 15-16 at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. Pre screenings dates are Aug. 26 at Nuestra Clinica del Valle in San Juan and Sep. 9 at Nuestra Clinica del Valle in Mission, both days from 8a.m -2p.m.

TMOMs are designed to bring dental services to individuals who cannot obtain care any other way. The usual model for TMOM patients is based on a first come, first served basis. Due to COVID-19 all patients will be prescreened a few weeks before the event and given an appointment time for the event. The free dental clinic will be at the Bert Ogden Arena  4900S 1-69C Edinburg, Tx beginning at 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday. 

Volunteer dentists and dental students from across the country performed cleanings, fillings, and extractions. Texas Mission of Mercy (TMOM) is a mobile dental clinic that travels around the state providing charitable basic dental care to Texans with limited resources and/or access to care. Local community support along with dental and non-dental volunteers from across the state come together at the community's venue. Up to 700 patients may be seen during the 2 day events depending upon the size of the clinic's set up. Volunteer dental professionals' primary focus is on relieving pain and preventing infection by providing extractions, fillings, and cleanings. In limited cases, replacing missing front teeth or repairing partial dentures may be available to restore a smile.

“We have dental students from California here,” said Jen Banton, chair of the Access to Care Committee for Texas Mission of Mercy. “They might go to school in California, but they can still come and help. They can’t provide care because their license isn’t good in Texas, but when we have students from (Texas) A&M or (University of Texas), we have adjunct professors that they can work under.” 

There will be 2 pre-screening events that will be held at two different clinics located in San Juan and Mission, Texas prior to the event.  Here patients will be evaluated and will have a treatment plan set up to be completed at the TMOM event.  To streamline the process and minimize wait times on the actual event days, it is highly recommended, but not required, to attend one of the pre-screening dates. This will ensure a smoother and more efficient treatment experience on the day of the clinic. 

 The detailed schedule and locations are as follows:

Dates for pre-screening below: