This topic is an easy one for me to talk about because I am so proud of the way the endodontists in Central Arizona have come together to make the Central Arizona Dental Society Foundation’s annual Dental Mission of Mercy become a huge success in just three short years of hosting these events.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Arizona Dental Mission of Mercy, please visit www.azmom.org for more information, but in simple terms CADS AZMOM is a two day dental clinic held the 2nd weekend in December at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. Patients are treated at NO CHARGE to basic dental care on a first come, first served basis. This massive undertaking requires the services of 1,500 volunteers of which 300 are dentists.
For the past two years CADS AZMOM has treated approx. 3,700 patients and provided $2.7 million dollars in free dental care. Our upcoming event on December 12th-13th, 2014 promises to be the biggest event yet.
In 2013, the Endo Department performed approximately 212 root canals over the 2 days. This is an astounding figure relative to dental Mission’s of Mercy in other states. Dental supply companies as well as individual endodontists brought their own microscopes to the event for all who were performing endo to use. It was an extraordinary site to see the finest endodontists in Central Arizona sit down side by side to treat those members of the community who were in need.
As a founding board member and president-elect of CADSF I have a tremendous amount of appreciation for my fellow endodontists and the work they have done at CADS AZMOM. I can’t thank them enough, because without them those patients could possibly still been in pain with teeth that needed a root canal. We made an immediate difference in the lives of those less fortunate, using the skills we were given and a little spare time during the holiday season of giving. I want to personally thank my fellow endodontists and all who volunteer at CADS AZMOM.
We still need a lot of volunteers (non-dental as well as dental) for the 2014 CADS Arizona Mission of Mercy. Here’s how to become involved:
480-264-5676 Bri Miller, Event Coordinator
Thank you,
Jacqueline S. Allen, D.D.S., M.S.
President-Elect
Central Arizona Dental Society Foundation