Free dentistry March 12 and 13

The N.C. Dental Society is holding a free clinic for needy adults, March 12 and 13 at the National Guard Armory.

"We have an awesome opportunity," said public-health Director Gayle Harris.

The clinic provides teeth cleaning, fillings and pullings on a first-come, first-served basis for patients whose family income is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty index: $44,100 per year for a family of four, for example. (For a chart, see http://liheap.ncat.org/profiles/pov.)

"Our goal is to provide the same standard of care as people would get at a private office," said Alec Parker, the state dental society's executive director.

Treatment is provided by volunteer dentists, assistants, hygienists and clerical staff, Parker said; and there is "quite an exhaustive list of community volunteer opportunities."

According to Parker's presentation for the Durham County commissioners Monday night, the dental society has offered more than 80 of the free clinics since 2003, serving more than 25,000 patients, in a program called "Missions of Mercy."

Intake runs from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, and patients will be seen from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

"It's not unusual for patients to start lining up for these clinics the night before," Parker said.