Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh’s ninth annual free dental and hearing clinic saw hundreds of patients on its first day, transforming the first floor of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center into a hub for those in need of care.
The two-day clinic is Pittsburgh-based nonprofit A Call to Care’s biggest event and one that Mission of Mercy board member Keith Young said helps an array of patients.
“The communities that are here as patients are some unhoused individuals but also people that don’t have health insurance benefits,” Young said. “People that are working multiple jobs or just don’t have good work benefits.”
According to Young, 60% of the patients who came to the clinic last year did not have insurance, and 30% of them were in pain.
“(And) 61% of those patients that had dental pain had had it for a month, or a year,” Young said. “That impacts them and their life.”
The clinic offers a variety of dental services carried out by volunteer clinicians from throughout Pittsburgh. Free cleanings, root canals, fillings, extractions, partial dentures and pediatric care are all available to those in need.
Amanda Dickson, executive director of Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh, said patient ages range from 2 to 92.
As of Friday morning, Dickson said they had made 806 appointments on their first day of operations.
Mission of Mercy can treat hundreds of patients because of its large volunteer staff — this year’s staff size being about 1,940 people — whose specialties, ages and backgrounds are “diverse.”
“There’s this love … that I believe really happens here,” Young said. “Many volunteers do this every year because they love their neighbor.”
Deeatre Allen, 31 of Millvale said this is her third time coming to the clinic — and her first time being seen.
Allen, who uses a wheelchair, said while she has good health benefits working in human resources for a bank, her benefits never seem to cover all of her health needs.
“I always go over,” she said. “I had one root canal, and I didn’t even get the crown.”
Today, Allen was able get treatment for other teeth in need of root canals, and she received referrals to clinics and healthcare providers partnered with Pittsburgh Mercy to provide aftercare services.
“It’s very organized,” Allen said.
Her girlfriend, Kari Wehrkamp, 35, said the staff was “warm and welcoming.”
“I’m grateful that this exists,” Wehrkamp said. “There are very few … who can afford healthcare.”
Patient capacity at the clinic depends on the severity of patients’ conditions and the number of people who can treat them, Dickson said.
Those seeking care can make appointments in person when the doors open at 6 a.m. and during clinic hours, which start at 7 a.m. Services usually last until 3 p.m.