1511-11645

Grantee Address

Alaska Dental Society
AK
United States

The Alaska Mission of Mercy (MoM) is a free dental event that took place in Anchorage, Alaska April 28-29, 2016. This year’s event was staffed by nearly 1,400 volunteers and provided dental treatment to over 2,500 Alaska residents. Services were provided free to cost and included: fillings, cleanings, oral cancer screenings, root canals on anterior teeth, treatment partials (flippers) to replace up to 4 missing anterior teeth, extractions and oral health education. Event organizers stated that the line of patients started the evening before the event and sadly over 500 spent the night in line waiting for treatment. The Alaska Dental Society Foundation organizes this MoM not only to address the symptoms of a broken oral healthcare system, but elevates this event as advocacy tool and as a call to action for policymakers and consumer rights groups in Alaska. The event organizers acknowledge that, “MOM events are not a solution to the dental access problem in Alaska.” Various media efforts went into publicizing this event’s purpose and to highlighting the urgent needs that exist surrounding oral health care. Alaska Governor Bill Walker and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s attended the MoM and received floor tours during the event, and numerous state senators and representatives were also in attendance.
Grant Amount
$10000.00