A free dental clinic that was supported by the Washington County Riverboard Foundation will be held this Friday and Saturday in Coralville.

The WCRF awarded a surprise grant at a special meeting in August, aiming to improve dental health in the area. The $10,000 grant was awarded to Iowa Mission of Mercy for a free dental clinic to be held September 19th and 20th. 

Riverboat Foundation Board President Jim Hauth shares how the grant funds will be used, “That committee recommended unanimously to go ahead and grant the Iowa Mission of Mercy, which is the free dental screening clinic that will be held in mid-September, September 19 and 20th. This is open to anybody, at no charge, and they anticipate seeing in the vicinity of 1,000 to 1,200 patients in that time frame.” 

The clinic will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Coralville and is open to anyone in the area, with no insurance required for services including fillings, cleanings, extractions, and more. Services will be provided by licensed dentists and staff. In addition, free childcare is available on-site. Doors open at 6 a.m. 

According to the group, fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists, a subgroup of the Iowa Area Development Group, Sixty-three of Iowa’s counties are dental shortage priority counties. Twenty-five counties are considered high priority, with 1 or less full-time dentist or all dentists  aged 60 or older. Three Iowa counties have no dentists, and seven counties have no full-time dentists.

More information about the free clinic can be found with this news story at KCIIRadio.com  https://www.iowamom.org/