Volunteers from all across Oklahoma came together at the ninth annual Oklahoma Mission of Mercy (OkMOM). Taking place in Durant for the first time, this year’s clinic was staged at the Choctaw Event Center February 2-3.
OkMOM is a two-day clinic designed to meet the critical needs of dental patients of all ages by providing free dental care to those in need.
More than 300 Oklahoma dentists provided free care to 957 patients at the event. Delta Dental of Oklahoma had more than 30 employee volunteers helping this year.
Treatment at OkMOM is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals and families in desperate need of dental treatment filled the courtesy indoor waiting area both nights prior to clinics opening at 5:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Dr. Matthew Hookom, of Custom Dental in Atoka, served as chair for the 2018 OkMOM. He expressed his appreciation for the volunteers and all w helped make the event successful.
“This is such a huge event and it takes so many people to make it happen, so many generous people,” Hookom said. “All across the state, there are dental professionals coming and non-dental professionals, too, to donate their time to help serve at this event. I just love seeing the dental community come together at this one time of year to make this happen.”
Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation, the Oklahoma Dental Association and the Oklahoma Dental Foundation are co-producers of the event, providing leadership and resources to ensure everything runs smoothly each year. Delta Dental of Oklahoma and its Foundation provided nearly $113,000 in grants and in-kind donations to the event.
OkMOM’s 10th Annual event will be held in Oklahoma City the first weekend in February 2019.
By the Numbers Dentist Volunteers: 301, Patients Treated: 957, Procedures Performed: 8,166, Donated Dental Care: $1,157,501.20, Average per Patient: $1,210.