The Western Maryland Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic along with County United Way and the Allegany County Oral Health and Prevention Consortium are holding a kick-off event and silent auction fundraiser at the Allegany Arts Council’s Saville Gallery in Downtown Cumberland on August 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

The purpose of the event is to promote the Western Maryland Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic that will take place on October 29 and 30 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds, to foster awareness of the oral health crisis in our area and to garner public support for a sustainable long-term solution to provide access to oral health care for low-income and underserved adults.

During the Kickoff event the Mountain Smiles Photography contest winners will be announced. Mountain Smiles is a community photo contest and exhibition running at the Allegany Arts Council’s Saville Gallery August 21 through September 2.

Local artists and businesses are donating items for the silent auction but more are welcome! To donate items for the auction please call Larry or Shawn Bloss at 301-777-0743.  In addition to those donating items for the silent auction, Mission of Mercy would like to recognize and thank the following for their generous support in making this event possible: The Allegany Arts Council, Allegany-Garrett Dental Society, Manhattan Golf and Gallery and Penny Knoble-Bessa.

In Western Maryland and the surrounding area a profound need for access to affordable oral health care exists for low income, uninsured and underserved adults. Allegany County is designated as a dental “Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).” We do not have enough providers to adequately serve this population.

According to the Maryland Behavioral Risk Assessment Survey 2008 report, Allegany County ranks first in complete tooth loss and last in the percentage of people who have kept all their teeth.  Sixty-one percent of the people surveyed reported that they had never seen a dentist. The local emergency room averages 75 visits a month for oral health needs. Over half of those are individuals with no effective access to oral health care. Allegany Health Right’s Emergency Dental Program receives over 50 requests per month for assistance with an oral health issue from Allegany County residents.  Infections that start in the mouth can travel to other parts of the body greatly affecting overall health in ways that can lead to heart attack, stroke or death