Georgia Megachurch Hosts Free Dental Care for Thousands
The Georgia Dental Association (GDA) has teamed up with First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga., to help improve thousands of smiles in “The Peach State” at no cost to patients.
The Georgia Mission of Mercy, as it has come to be called, is being held Friday and Saturday and will serve an estimated 1,000 patients per day on a first come, first serve basis.
Dr. Richard Smith told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that early Friday morning he estimated that 4,000 people were already waiting in line to receive the free care, which is being offered solely to low-income adults who will be diagnosed and treated by licensed Georgia dentists.
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"The line went around the building, all the way through the parking lot and around a warehouse," said Smith.
Dr. Johnny M. Hunt, pastor of the 7,000 member First Baptist Church that is hosting the event, says that 25 of the dentists working there are from his congregation.
Hunt says that his church is “very much aware” of the needs of those in financial distress in and around his church's community, distress that is “magnified in the context of the economy.”
“We believe the light that shines the farthest should shine the brightest at home,” Hunt told The Christian Post. “So we want to show, first and foremost, that we're concerned about where we live.”
The Georgia pastor said that dental hygiene isn't the only ministry his church has offered to benefit the community. Each year, the church does a month-long event called Love Loud October, in which professionals in his congregation donate their knowledge and experience to benefit the community. Medical doctors, auto mechanics, beauticians and other professionals work within the church to offer their services to those in need for several days.
Last year, First Baptist had 45 dentists who spent two days offering dental health care to community members but, under the suggestion of one of the dentists in the church, they have begun working with the GDA and have been able to expand their services significantly as a result.
“It was the lay people taking the lead,” said Hunt.
In addition to performing patient care – including tooth extractions, fillings and cleanings – the organization will also seek to educate patients on good dental health practices and direct them to other area dental resources.
Approximately 1,500 volunteers signed up to help with the event. GMOM also hopes to raise $275,000 in donations to cover the great expense of offering the free service.
The event will run through 5 p.m. on Friday and will run from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Approximately 100 dental chairs, along with the accompanying tools, are being used in order to help as many people receive care as possible.
GMOM was created by a vote of the Georgia Dental Association House of Delegates in January 2010. It is funded by the Georgia Dental Association Foundation for Oral Health, with GMOM currently being the foundation's only project.
Similar projects have or will occur in 24 different states who work in conjunction with the national organization, America's Dentists Care Foundation Missions of Mercy
