February 29, 2012

5th ANNUAL “CONNECTICUT MISSION OF MERCY”
ON ITS WAY TO CONNECTICUT

State Rep. Bob Godfrey (D-Danbury), Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams (D-Brooklyn) and other state lawmakers today joined leaders from the Connecticut Mission of Mercy (CTMOM) in officially welcoming the free two-day dental clinic back to the state three weeks from now. The 5th Annual Connecticut Mission of Mercy will be held at the O’Neil Center at Western Connecticut State University’s West Side Campus on Friday-Saturday, March 23-24th starting at 6 a.m. 

CTMOM is a full-service multi-chair dental clinic providing free dental care to people of all ages who are in need of urgent and immediate care. The first-come, first-served free clinic will have more than 100 dental chairs and will likely be staffed by more than 1,400 volunteers.

CTMOM expects to see more than 2,000 patients over the weekend of the clinic, with a full level of dental services being provided, including cleanings, fillings, x-rays, oral exams, extractions, oral surgery and temporary partial dentures. General health screenings will be provided as well. Since Connecticut became the first northeast state to host an annual Mission of Mercy dental clinic in 2008, roughly 7,000 patients have been seen at the previous four clinics (Tolland in 2008, New Haven in 2009, Middletown in 2010, Waterbury in 2011) and more than $3.6 million in free dental care has been given out at the events.

“There is no better sign of joy than a toothy grin, but sadly many gaps remain in our health care system,” Rep. Godfrey said. “We have made great progress in treating needy children through the 1,200 dentists in the CT Husky Program, but we should do more to provide affordable dental care to the hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents without adequate insurance.”

 “The free dental care provided through the years by Mission of Mercy volunteers have helped thousands of Connecticut residents lead healthier lives,” said Senator Williams. “Unfortunately far too many Connecticut families lack access to affordable dental coverage which can lead to a myriad of health problems. Mission of Mercy helps highlight what is truly a health crisis.”

Dr. Robert Schreibman, a pediatric dentist from Glastonbury who co-founded CTMOM and serves as its co-chair, said, “These numbers that CTMOM has drawn to our clinics each year point to the tremendous need for oral health care coverage here in Connecticut – there are hundreds of thousands of state residents who lack adequate care. CTMOM is a wonderful charitable event that serves a population in need, but our goal remains to see a long-term solution that provides access to dental health coverage for every resident of Connecticut.”

Dr. Michael Perl, a retired dentist from Essex who also co-founded and co-chairs CTMOM, added, “As I have said before, good dental health goes hand in hand with good overall health. People who practice good dental care are generally healthier, and conversely, those who don’t – or are not able to due to lack of access – can find themselves facing major health problems. This is more than just a dental issue – it is also a critical health issue. People who lack adequate dental care are often far more susceptible to heart disease and diabetes. That is why this needs to be treated as the health crisis that it is. CTMOM is a great event, but once it ends, we all still need to work together towards a long-term health care solution.”