NMOM 2006

The second Nebraska Dental Association's Nebraska Mission of Mercy (NMOM) two-day event saw nearly 1800 patients resulting in over $640,000 in free dental care. "The event certainly met, and without question, exceeded all expectations," said Dr. Steve Anderson, Grand Island Dentist and Co-Chair of this year's event. This year's event doubled the number of dentists, volunteers, and participants from the inaugural event held last year North Platte.

At last count, over 150 dentists, 80 dental assistants, 50 hygienists, and 140 office staff, dedicated two days of their time and expertise to provide the free dental services to anyone who walked through the doors of the Heartland Event Center at Fonner Park in Grand Island.

According to Teresa Anderson, Director of the Central District Health Department along with her 30+ staff, who coordinated the massive operational logistics, over 700 non-dental community volunteers made the event possible. "The community really came together to support the Grand Island Mission of Mercy. We are truly fortunate to live and work in an environment where kindness is the standard."

In addition, it took a small army of dentists and dental equipment specialists along with eight consultants from the Kansas Mission of Mercy group, all day Thursday to turn the Heartland Event Center into a very organized, high-volume dental clinic.

Last year in North Platte, the Kansas Mission of Mercy furnished all but 2 of the 50 dental chairs and support equipment. This year, the Kansas contingent brought a few more and with the help of a $100,000 grant from the Peter Kiewit Foundation, NMOM was able to purchase an additional 30 dental chair units and 40 portable lights. This brought the total used in Grand Island to over 90 dental stations.

When the Heartland Event Center doors opened at 6:00 a.m. on Friday morning, patients walked into a transformed dental facility equipped with numerous dental work stations, portable digital X-Ray equipment, an area for sterilization, curtained areas for oral surgery and children's dentistry, a staffed child care center, and free food for the patients and their families.

By the end of the day on Friday, the clinic had served 939 patients resulting in an estimated $360,000 of free dental care. Preliminary totals from Saturday's session indicate that the dentists and their staffs saw approximately 830 patients. Final totals for the two days will be confirmed early next week.

"Overall, this has simply been amazing," remarked David O'Doherty, executive director of the Nebraska Dental Association. "There hasn't been a dentist, assistant, staff member or volunteer here that hasn't had their heart warmed, in one way or another. We know that we have impacted a lot of families in the tri-city region."

While details have not been finalized, it appears that the Nebraska Mission of Mercy will be headed to Norfolk next year" said Mr. O'Doherty. More information will be released as plans come together.

The entire Nebraska Mission of Mercy in Grand Island was privately funded through local and statewide donations from the Grand Island community, and dentists, businesses and private individuals. No local, state, or federal monies were involved.

The entire 2006 Nebraska Mission of Mercy event was privately funded.  No local, state, or federal monies were involved. Funding for the project came through local and statewide donations from dentists, businesses and private individuals who had never seen such an event, but took a leap of faith and made a financial commitment of support.

Would you like to support NMOM 2007? Contact the NDA!!