The Iowa Dental Association’s "Mission of Mercy" program that provides free dental care to anyone who wants it will hold its second event September 25-26th at the Iowa Speedway in Newton. Dentist Richard Hettinger says 85 of his colleagues from all over the state will work on patients at the event.
He says they will be providing fillings, hygiene visits, tooth removal, the whole gamut of dental care. The first "Mission of Mercy" in Waterloo last October saw 1,250 Iowans take advantage of the service. Iowa Dental Association president, Heather Heddens says those patients received over $600,000 worth of free care from the volunteer dentists and other volunteers.
"Of course when you see the smiles of those faces walking out of the Mission of Mercy, no dollar amount comes close to that rewarding feeling of taking care of those folks and helping them," Heddens says. Newton dentist Steve Rabedeaux participated in last year’s event and is chairing the steering committee for this year’s.
Rabedeaux says people are so grateful by the care they get that he was almost overwhelmed and moved to tears by the gratefulness of people for services that were out of the reach of the people.
The free dental service is given on a first come, first served basis with no financial restrictions. The event will run from seven A.M. until five P.M. on both days. For more information, visit the Mission of Mercy website . The Iowa Speedway is donating the building space for the program.