The Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation hosts the 18th Kansas Mission of Mercy free dental clinic at the Robert W. Plaster Center at Pittsburg State University. The clinic doors open at 5:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. There are no appointments or reservations and patients will be seen on a first come, first served basis. Treatment options include fillings, extractions, and dental hygiene. Organizers plan to treat an estimated 1,600 patients during the two-day dental clinic. Among the dentists taking part is Dr. Cynthia Sherwood of Independence. She has taken part in 21 Missions of Mercy in Kansas and other states. Support for the project comes entirely from donations and grants. The project will cost nearly $160,000, but will leave behind approximately $1.2 million of donated dental care in return.
The clinic will include an estimated 70 dental chairs and it is projected that nearly 1,000 volunteers, consisting of dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, medical personnel, and community volunteers will donate their time and talents to treat patients.
