VCU School of Dentistry to participate in Mission of Mercy Project

By Malorie Burkett

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry will participate in the Virginia Dental Association’s annual Mission of Mercy Project in Wise to provide various dental services to thousands of patients.

The three-day clinic will take place July 24-26 at the Wise County Fair Grounds from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday. All services are free and available to the public and will include restorations, extractions and dentures.

School of Dentistry residents, faculty and staff will work with other members of an all volunteer dental team. Throughout the year, VCU collaborates with the VDA in additional localities including Grundy, Roanoke, the Eastern Shore and Northern Virginia, but the project in Wise is the oldest and largest.

From 2000 to 2008, more than 10,600 patients received an estimated $6.7 million in free dental services.

This year the Wise Mission of Mercy will celebrate its 10th anniversary. A concert featuring Ralph Stanley will take place Friday evening.