MISSIONS OF MERCY (MOM) DENTAL CLINICS
- Portable free dental clinics are conducted over a two-day period, offering complimentary care for adults from under-served households.
- Programs rotate throughout the state, each requiring a host community.
- Each clinic varies in size – depending on funding and volunteers – to serve anywhere from 300 to 3,000 patients.
- Provides a one-to-one patient to dentist ratio, guaranteeing digital X-rays, instrument sterilization and supplies for each patient.
- Clinics are staffed by volunteers, including dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, lab techs, health professionals, and community members.
- Clinic set-up occurs on a Thursday, and patients are treated on a first come-first serve basis on Friday and Saturday, from 6 am-4 pm.
This model of access to care through volunteerism is the hallmark of the Foundation’s MOM clinic outreach program.
Important Notes for Patients
- Clinics are for adults only (ages 18 and older).
- Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis until clinic capacity is reached.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteer registrations will open 90 days prior to each clinic. We need you! Dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and community volunteers are essential to making these clinics possible. Your time and skills can change lives in a single day—please mark your calendars and join us in bringing free dental care to those who need it most.
For 2026 MOM Clinics, please visit our Events page.
- Dentists typically provide one major procedure per patient, such as an extraction or filling.
- At all clinics, patients receive education on proper oral hygiene, as well as supplies to take home.
- Patients who come to the clinic are in dire need of dental treatment, and most are in severe pain. Many have not seen a dentist in years, and some have never seen a dentist. These clinics provide much-needed relief with the help of dedicated volunteers.
2025 Central Piedmont Community College Mini MOM Clinic
Thank You to Our Volunteers
A heartfelt thank-you to all the incredible volunteers who made this clinic possible! Because of your time, skill, and compassion, we were able to provide care to 80 patients, delivering services valued at more than $50,000. Your dedication continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of North Carolinians in need.
2025 Elkin MOM Clinic
GIVE KIDS A SMILE® (GKAS)
GKAS is an annual volunteer program that provides free educational, preventative and restorative services to children from low-income families. Many of these children are unable to eat, sleep or pay attention in school, ultimately risking more serious health problems because of poor oral health.
Can we count on you to host or participate in a Give Kids A Smile event?
For more than 15 years, NC Dental Society members have provided complimentary screenings, treatment and oral health education for deserving children. Each year, we aim for participation among all 100 North Carolina counties, and we need your help.
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Endowment Grants and the Dental Public Health Award
NC Dental Society Foundation is proud to recognize the recipients of the 2026 Endowment Grants and Dental Public Health Award.
Access Dental Care was awarded the Dental Public Health Award for their statewide mobile dental clinic that brings care directly to patients in skilled nursing facilities, group homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and other community-based settings.
Orange County Health Department Dental Clinic was awarded an Endowment Grant for its mobile dental clinic that travels throughout Orange County to provide free or low-cost treatment.
Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic received an Endowment Grant for its prosthetics program that provides crowns, partials, and denture services at no cost to adults across five rural western NC counties.
McAdams Free Clinic was awarded an Endowment Grant to expand its mobile health clinic to include preventative and restorative dental care including evaluations, hygiene services, extractions, and fillings.
North Carolina Caring Dental Professionals received an Endowment Grant to support its statewide public education initiative that increases awareness of prevention, early intervention, and compassionate support for oral health professionals experiencing substance use disorders, mental health conditions, professional burnout, and other impairments.
Oral Health Outreach Program Grants
In alignment with our mission and to support dental initiatives all across the state, the NC Dental Society Foundation is proud to continue supporting NC Dental Schools by rolling out a new program: Oral Health Outreach Program Grants.
The Oral Health Outreach Program Grants aim to support programs by NC Dental Schools that serve marginalized and underserved populations through clinics, volunteer efforts, education, and oral health programming.
Applications are accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Please email Sharon D’Costa, sdcosta@ncdental.org with any questions and click here to apply.
NCDS Foundation Relief Fund
We extend our heartfelt support to the communities impacted by the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.
The North Carolina Dental Society Foundation is offering emergency relief grants to dentists in western North Carolina who have suffered personal and business-related damages or losses due to the hurricane.
*If you are a dentist impacted by the hurricane and in need of assistance, reach out to Sharon D’costa at- sdcosta@ncdental.org to apply for a relief grant.
Dental Workforce Development Initiative
Like much of healthcare, dentistry has faced significant workforce challenges. Across North Carolina, many practices struggle to recruit and retain dental assistants and hygienists—two roles essential to patient care. The NC Dental Society Foundation is helping close this gap by partnering with community colleges to provide need-based scholarships for students in Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene programs. These scholarships help cover expenses such as national board exams, internship fees, and other out-of-pocket costs that often create barriers for students. Thanks to generous partners, including the Dogwood Health Trust, the Foundation has already awarded more than 180 scholarships and is continuing to expand support for students statewide.
School-Based Dental Programs
The NC Dental Society Foundation’s school-based dental programs aim to bridge the gap in oral healthcare for children attending Title 1 schools in North Carolina. By establishing on-site pediatric dental services at these schools, the Foundation aims to address disparities in access and ensure that every child receives the comprehensive dental care they deserve.
In addition to dental care, dentists can educate children on preventative care – from regular brushing and flossing to nutrition education to tobacco avoidance. Each participant will be given $5,000 to initiate a school-based program.
Click the button below to email Sharon D’Costa if you want to make a profound impact! You can also fill out and submit the application form here.
