Free dental service event being planned for 2013

Missouri Missions of Mercy, a large-scale dental clinic, is looking for local support to bring its project to Cape Girardeau in May 2013.

America's Dentists Care Foundation Missions of Mercy has been providing free dental services to the underserved since 2000, but this is only the second event in Missouri.

The organization has branches in 23 states. The first Missouri clinic took place in September in Springfield, Mo. The second is set to take place May 3 and 4, 2013 at the Show Me Center. It will target people in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois who do not have access to dental care.

"It makes it possible for people to receive much needed dental care," said Dr. Janet Ruopp, chairwoman of Missouri Missions of Mercy.

Ruopp, of Ruopp & Ruopp Dentistry in Cape Girardeau, was recently involved in a clinic for the Kansas Missions for Mercy in Kansas City.

"People just keep thanking you because otherwise they would not have received this care," Ruopp said.

According to Ruopp, the Missouri Bootheel is one of most depressed areas in the state with an unemployment rate of 21 percent. These individuals do not have access to dental insurance.

"As a dentist I know there are people just falling through the cracks. Sixty-six percent of my practice has insurance. Some people don't have anything," Ruopp said.

Ruopp said that according to the Missouri Dental Association, one-fourth of Missourians have gone two years without seeing a dentist.

Ruopp said a space of 26,000 square feet was needed to host the event, and Cape Girardeau was the most equipped place in the area.

The organization expects to treat 1,500 to 2,000 patients during the two-day clinic. Organizers plan to have 100 dental chairs and provide services such as fillings, cleanings and extractions. One hundred and fifty to 200 dentists from all over the state are expected to participate. Ruopp anticipates being able to give away $800,000 to $1 million worth of free dental services.

A total of 1,000 to 2,000 volunteers are needed to run a clinic of this size. According to Ruopp, 35 local people have already agreed to participate, including several dentists and hygienists. Volunteers are not compensated for their time.

The organization will need to raise $150,000 to bring the clinic to Cape Girardeau and $30,000 of that is needed for the equipment alone. The organization must pay America's Dentists Care Foundation for the use of equipment such as dental chairs, units, stools, instruments and supplies. The price also includes the cost of food and drink for the volunteers and patients, signage, advertising and other supplies.

Southeast Missouri State University is one of the partners in the project. According to Ruopp, Southeast will pay the rent for the facility. The SHOW Mobile will be at the event with workers collecting the ZIP codes of patients in order to provide follow-up care in those areas.

"The SHOW Mobile is going to help address the needs that don't get taken care of during the mission," Ruopp said.

Missouri Missions for Mercy will hold 13 monthly meetings to prepare for the clinic, the first of which will take place at 6 p.m. on April 19 at the Cape Girardeau Country Club. The rest of the meetings will take place on the second Tuesday of every month starting in May.

Those interested in donating or volunteering may contact Ruopp at 334-8884.

ajones@semissourian.com

388-3654