Wisconsin Dental Association: WDA Mission of Mercy bringing free dental care to Sheboygan for two days

CONTACT: Carol S. Weber, APR, Director of Public Relations

PHONE: 414-755-4108 (direct)

E-MAIL: cweber@wda.org

WEST ALLIS, WIS., June 7, 2010 – The 2,900-member Wisconsin Dental Association and WDA Foundation are teaming up for the second annual Mission of Mercy, also known as MOM, to provide an estimated $1 million in free dental care to 2,000 children and adults on June 25 and 26 at Sheboygan North High School, 1042 School Ave.

Doors open at 6 a.m. with an estimated 1,000 patients being treated each day on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no appointments. The day’s patient quota is typically reached by 10 a.m., so early arrival is encouraged.

Individuals of all ages who are uninsured, underinsured or otherwise unable to visit a dental office and do not have a medically-compromising condition, such as extremely high blood pressure or severe disabilities, that prohibits receiving care are welcome. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Photo identification, social security number or other personal identification/documentation is NOT required.

Cleanings, fillings, extractions and limited treatment partials will be offered. All work will be provided free by a team of 950 volunteers including 175 dentists, dental hygienists and assistants, Marquette University School of Dentistry students and community members who are donating their time and skills.

MOM corporate partners are American Orthodontics Corp., Delta Dental of Wisconsin in memory of Dr. Coleman Gertler and Henry Schein Dental. Other major contributors include Dr. Alfred Bader, Frank G. and Freida K. Brotz Family Foundation, DentaQuest, Group One Marketing, Sheboygan County Dental Society and Tellier Foundation.

Together with more than 70 other organizations and individuals, they have contributed some $185,000 in tax-deductible financial donations and in-kind contributions to the WDA Foundation. These donations help cover the cost of dental equipment and facility rental, supplies, pharmaceuticals and food for this major charitable dental care event which includes a full day for set up on June 24 and clean up on June 27.

MOM events deliver, on average, $6 to $8 in critically-needed dental care for every donor dollar received.

About 1 million low-income individuals, or 20 percent of Wisconsin residents, are beneficiaries of Medicaid, BadgerCare and BadgerCare Plus coverage during a 12-month period. In Wisconsin, state and federal governments spend less than 1 percent or just $38 million of a $4.4 billion annual MA budget on oral health programs for children and adults.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services data shows MA patients received $74 million in dental care services in 2006. The state and federal governments paid $32 million or 44 percent of those charges. The remaining $42 million or 56 percent was donated by dentists due to very low MA reimbursement rates.

Last year, more than 32,000 people in Wisconsin visited hospital emergency rooms because of dental problems.

“Until we, as a state, address the gap between the dental care people need and what the medical assistance programs cover, thousands of people will continue suffering from dental pain and millions of dollars will be wasted treating oral health problems that should have been prevented. Dentists do serve, but charity alone is not the answer,” explains WDA President-Elect and MOM State Program Chair Dr. Gene Shoemaker of Waukesha.

“Mission of Mercy is not a solution, but it helps meet some individuals’ urgent dental care needs while bringing the access problem to the attention of legislators and the general public. It’s a question of state priorities,” Shoemaker said.

The first WDA Mission of Mercy was held in La Crosse last June and exceeded all goals by providing 1,535 children and adults with more than $850,000 in dental care over two days.

More information about the WDA Mission of Mercy, including a 2010 patient flyer, is available at WDA.org .

The Wisconsin Dental Association was established in 1870. With more than 2,900 members statewide, the WDA represents 83 percent of all licensed, practicing dentists in Wisconsin. WDA members are committed to promoting professional excellence and quality oral health care. The WDA is headquartered in West Allis and has a legislative office in Madison. It is one of 53 constituent (state-territorial) dental societies of the American Dental Association – the largest and oldest national dental association in the world. For more information on the WDA, call 414-276-4520, visit our WDA.org website and find us on Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.