The Minnesota Mission of Mercy is a two-day FREE dental clinic for any child or adult that needs dental services, regardless of previous dental history, insurance status or their ability to pay.

Clinic Dates: June 7-8. 2024
Clinic Hours: Doors open at 5:30 a.m. and close once we’ve reached capacity.

Where
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center
350 Harbor Drive
Duluth, MN 55802

Map/Directions

The clinic will be staffed with hundreds of volunteers from throughout the state of Minnesota and neighboring states, including licensed dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. As you and your family enter the Convention Center, volunteers will register you, take a basic health history, and then direct you to the appropriate treatment area. There are no qualifications or restrictions (except possible health issues) to take advantage of the free dental services.

All patients are examined by a licensed dentist to determine their most important need. Depending on your need, services may include cleanings, fillings, tooth removal (extractions), a limited number of root canals and treatment partials to replace front teeth. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide caps, crowns, metal-based partial dentures, dentures, implants, bridges, orthodontics or extraction of wisdom teeth. Narcotics will not be dispensed. You and the treating dentist will decide the appropriate service that best fits your circumstances. An individual’s most severe problem (infection and/or pain) will be given first priority. Services will be done on a first come-first serve basis.

That will depend on what your needs are. Only one major service is usually performed on each patient. We will do multiple extractions or fillings at one time; however, you will not receive both of these services at one time. Our philosophy is to provide services to as many people as possible rather than provide many services to fewer people. If you receive treatment on Friday you can get in line for Saturday, too.

Yes, children are welcome. We have pediatric dentists, especially trained to work with children, who will provide treatment in a gentle and caring manner. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

No, we do not require you to bring proof of income. The Minnesota Dental Foundation Mission of Mercy is a FREE event, regardless of your income.

No, all services at the Minnesota Mission of Mercy are provided on a first-come, first-served basis until we have reached our capacity for the day. Our capacity is determined by the number of professional volunteers present and cannot be predicted in advance of the opening of the MOM event. Our goal is to treat as many patients as we can each day.

You should plan to arrive in the early morning hours. Patients usually begin arriving shortly after midnight. Doors will open at 5:30 a.m. and dental examinations will begin promptly. Please remember services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis until we have reached our capacity for the day.

Everyone has to wait in line for services. Most Mission of Mercy patients are suffering and in pain, so we do not take anyone out of line. If you have dental pain, fever, and/or swelling, you should seek immediate attention and NOT wait for Mission of Mercy, as this could put your overall heath at greater risk.

Patients seeking treatment at the Minnesota Mission of Mercy should be prepared to spend the entire day at the event. If you are not available when your name is called for treatment, we will move on to the next patient.

We suggest bringing the following items with you to the Minnesota Mission of Mercy:

• Snacks and drinks to sustain you during your waiting period.
• Adequate clothing to shelter you while waiting.
• Something to pass the time, like a book, knitting or puzzles.
• Please bring a list of your current medications. On the day of the clinic be sure to take your medications and bring them with you if you would need them throughout the duration of the event.

• Anticoagulation: Patients on ASA or Plavix can have extractions. Coumadin patients need to have an INR within 24H if needing extractions. This can be done on site if we have a machine. For 1-2 extractions cut off is 3.5. For 3 or more extractions cut off is 3.0. Patients on anticoagulants that cannot be measured by an INR (i.e. Pradaxa and Xarleto) cannot have extractions.
• Bisphosphonates: Routine dental care may be provided with gentle soft tissue management. Local anesthesia can be used as necessary. Patients with a history of Oral Bisphosphonate treatment may have extractions at the discretion of the oral surgery/medical triage lead. Patients with a history of IV Bisphosphonate treatment may not have extractions.
• Blood pressure cutoff: 180/100
• Blood sugar cutoff: 300
• Heart Stents – no treatment before 3 months post op – no pre-med necessary.
• Heart surgery – no treatment before 6 months post op or at discretion of medical triage lead, pre-med case by case basis.
• Pregnancy: Should receive hygiene care as indicated. In uncomplicated pregnancy, treatment of symptomatic teeth can be done in all trimesters. Asymptomatic teeth should be treated only in second trimester. Lidocaine only. Multiple extractions will be at the discretion of oral surgery.

Come prepared for the weather when waiting in line and have a plan to stow your gear (chairs, blankets, sleeping bags) while you are in the clinic, as large items will not be permitted inside.

Once capacity has been reached, the clinic doors will be closed and a sign will be placed outside as notification to others. This process will repeat on the second day. We will treat as many patients as we can each of the two clinic days. As patients enter the building they will be given a name tag and a numbered wristband that corresponds with their place in line. Patients must maintain their place in line, in both the waiting room and the clinic, and cannot be gone for long periods of time for any reason. They will be escorted, as necessary, by volunteers for restroom breaks.

Once they are seated, patients will be given a registration/release form to complete. Note, that we will not be checking IDs, and any demographic information collected will only be used in aggregate, so we have statistics about our patient population.

In the Dental Education area patients will receive information about the importance of maintaining their teeth with proper tooth brushing and flossing. Information will also be provided about nutrition and diet as it relates to dental decay. We will also have materials specific to smoking cessation and other health issues such as diabetes.

Patients will proceed, in numerical order to Medical Triage. Their medical history will be reviewed and their blood pressure taken to be sure they are healthy enough to safely receive dental treatment. From Medical Triage they will be escorted to X-ray and then to Dental Triage where a dentist will examine them and discuss recommended treatment.

Patients will stop at the Routing desk and receive a numbered card for the corresponding clinic where they will receive treatment (i.e., fillings, extractions, cleanings, treatment partials).

Once patients have received their treatment they are escorted, as needed, to a post-op area where a dentist will explain proper post-treatment care and answer any questions. From there, all patients will take a small exit survey and then be escorted back outside.

Follow the instructions of your primary care provider and inform the attending medical providers examining you in Medical Triage. Take the premedication if you have it; if you do not, it will be provided for you in the clinic. Premedication does not eliminate you from receiving care.

Licensed dentists and hygienists from Minnesota and neighboring states will be providing the dental treatment.  A limited number of supervised, fourth-year dental students will be treating patients as well.

Yes, wheelchairs will be available to accommodate those with special needs.

Yes, interpreters will be available for those speaking Spanish. Some other languages can be accommodated through our volunteers.  If you can bring a friend or family member to interpret for you, it would be greatly appreciated; however, not required.

No, childcare is not available. We encourage you to not bring children to Minnesota Mission of Mercy unless they are receiving treatment.

The Minnesota Dental Foundation Mission of Mercy is entirely volunteer run and donation based. We have received very generous contributions from our MOM sponsors that allow us to bring in the equipment and supplies necessary for the clinic. Everyone working at the clinic is volunteering their time and talents. The services are absolutely free to patients.