Dentists Serve Up Mission of Mercy in Wisconsin
Belleville, Wisconsin (PRWEB) July 26, 2013 -- Dr. Priscilla Shih of Neighborhood Smiles Belleville in Wisconsin and several office staff were part of a team of volunteer dentists, dental hygienists and assistants, dental students and faculty and community members who traveled to Lake Geneva, Wis., to help make the fifth Wisconsin Dental Association and WDA Foundation Mission of Mercy an overwhelming success this year. The event took place June 28-29 at Badger High School.
She and the other volunteers who contributed their time, talents, and skills made the event a resounding success.
“So many people in our country are in need of serious dental work,” she said, “and some of it life threatening. But they can’t afford the work they need. I was so glad to be a part of this. It really moved me, and I enjoyed receiving thanks and smiles in return, to see patients no longer in pain. I plan to do it again next year.”
In two days, she and the others provided $1.18 million worth of free dental care to nearly 2,000 people. This included 1,450 fillings, 1,846 extractions, 719 cleanings, 823 sealant/fluoride treatments, 32 root canals, and 100 partial dentures. To pull off this amazing feat, more than 200 dentists volunteered, including Shih. They would not have been able to do this without the help of dental hygienists, assistants, dental students, and other members of the community who had also volunteered. The Wisconsin program, which was started in 2009, also saw its 10,000th patient this year and topped more than $5.8 million of donated care since its inception. To learn more, donate, or register as a volunteer, go to http://www.wda.org/wda-foundation/mission-of-mercy/about-mom.
About the WDA Foundation (http://www.wda.org/wda-foundation):
Established in 1957 as a charitable subsidiary of the Wisconsin Dental Association, the WDA Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. Its mission is to improve the oral health of Wisconsin residents through support of projects that provide dental care for the disadvantaged while meeting current and future needs of the dental profession. Donations to the WDA Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. The foundation is largely supported by WDA members. However, costs associated with a large-scale project such as Mission of Mercy require an expanded donor base and solicitation of grants from industry-related sponsors, other foundations, and local dental societies.
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Dr. Priscilla Shih, Neighborhood Smiles Belleville, http://www.smilesbelleville.com/, 608-424-3222, [email protected]
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