Free dental clinic coming to Gastonia

Hundreds of people seeking free mobile dental care are expected to converge at City Church on Friday and Saturday.

Missions of Mercy, also known as MOM, will hold a free mobile dental clinic at the Gastonia church off South New Hope Road on Friday, Aug. 19 and Saturday Aug. 20.

City Church has already cleared its auditorium, pastor Dickie Spargo said Tuesday. The church became involved after seeing the need for dental care in the community, Spargo said.

"Jesus saw a need and he met it. He saw a hurt and he healed it," Spargo said of the use of a church building for a dental clinic. "We believe the church should be a help for the hurting, not just a hotel for the saints."

Organizers expect 500 or more people to seek help in the two days of the clinic.

Details

When: Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-serve basis Friday and Saturday. Patients must be in line no later than 6 a.m. People can start lining up Thursday night.

What: Opportunity for patients to receive free dental care from licensed dentists. Based on an initial examination and X-rays, offered dental procedures may include: cleanings, fillings, extractions and dentures. Screenings for the limited number of dentures will take place on Thursday. Denture patients must be residents of Gaston County.

Where: City Church, 3100 City Church St., Gastonia

Who: Presented by the North Carolina Dental Society Foundation. This adult clinic provides complimentary dental procedures for adults who cannot afford or do not have access to oral health care.

Since its founding in 2003, NCDSF MOM clinics have provided more than $39 million in free care to more than 69,000 North Carolinians.

The North Carolina Dental Society was founded in 1856 and is one of the oldest dental societies in the country. The NCDS represents 4,000 member dentists in North Carolina.

You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him at kellis@gastongazette.com.