Dental clinic will offer care for local low-income patients
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 23, 2007 1:49 PM
A successful free weekend dental clinic is being brought back to Goldsboro next month.
Dr. Rick Stovall, a local dentist and member of the Board of Health, told the board last week the clinic will be Nov. 16-17 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Harris Street.
Provided by the Mission of Mercy of North Carolina, the program originated in Alamance County in 1998 in conjunction with that county's Health Department. It expanded in 2004 when Mission of Mercy introduced free weekend dental clinics around the state.
Its goal is to provide dental care to those with limited or no dental insurance.
Stovall's office was responsible for bringing the program to Goldsboro in August 2006.
"Last year, it was very successful," said Stephanie Rarick, a dental assistant on Stovall's staff, who helped coordinate the local event. "We saw over 300 people, probably more like 350."
The portable free dental program offered such services as extractions, fillings and cleanings.
The church site will be set up to have between 20 and 30 dental chairs, as well as full X-rays and all instrumentation and supplies.
Clinic dates and times will be Friday, Nov. 16, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 17, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Mostly serving adults, Stovall said they will try to accommodate as many people as possible during the time allotted.
Pre-registration will be done on Thursday, Nov. 15, he added. Those who pre-register will be the first ones seen at the clinic. Others will be seen on a first come, first served basis.
Volunteers from the medical and dental community are being enlisted. Stovall said dentists and dental assistants from the Mission of Mercy and UNC dental school, as well as Wayne Community College have also responded well in the past.
He also told the board he hopes in the future to be able to bring the free clinic to the area twice a year.
For more information on the event, call Stovall's office at 735-3431.