KMOM Pittsburg Provides 743 Patients with $1,129,211 in Donated Dental Care
The Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation (KDCF) hosted its annual free dental clinic, the Kansas Mission of Mercy (KMOM), at Pittsburg State University on April 26-27, 2019.
At 5:30 AM on both days, patients entered the registration area through the Robert W. Plaster Center, and were then filed into medical and dental triage in the Weede Physical Education Building.
Each patient also received a panoramic X-ray before being escorted to the waiting area, where they were called to various areas of the clinic to receive cleanings, fillings, extractions, or other necessary services.
“We have a pretty big operation where we have two different diesel generators that we’re using for the electrical, because we have reverse osmosis systems for our water, we have the pumps and the vacuums, and so this is just a mobile clinic,” said Dr. Gina Pinamonti, an orthodontist in Pittsburg and local chair for KMOM.
At the end of the day on Saturday, a total of 743 patients received $1,129,211 in donated dental care over two days, including 1,342 fillings and 2,446 extractions.
The event would not have been possible without the help of 600+ volunteers and donors.
While there are limits to the services KMOM can provide during the one-hour dentistry sessions during the two-day event, Pinamonti explained that KDCF receives a lot of positive feedback from patients.
“To help them get out of pain, or to help them be able to smile, that makes a huge difference, I mean you can just see the joy in their face,” Pinamonti said. “It’s pretty amazing.”
View photos from the event on the KDCF Facebook page.
KDCF sends special thanks to Dr. Gina Pinamonti, the local arrangments committee, and Pittsburg State University for making this mission a success.
Quotes provided by Jonathan Riley of the Morning Sun. Read more at morningsun.net.