Illinois State Dental Society Provides $1.6 Million in Free Dental Care in Peoria During 2024 Mission of Mercy

The Illinois State Dental Society Foundation proudly hosted its seventh annual Mission of Mercy (MOM) event on June 28th and 29th at the Peoria Civic Center. This impactful weekend brought together over 1,000 dedicated volunteers—including dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, and dental students from across the state—to provide critical dental services valued at over $1.6 million at no cost to patients.

Available to anyone in need of dental care, the event was a success, with 1306 patients receiving treatment. The patients came from more than 55 counties and three states. More than 80 veterans received priority care on the first day as part of the veteran-first initiative, a gesture of gratitude for their service.

“The impact of this weekend will be felt for years and decades to come by both the volunteers who witnessed the power of their impact and by patients whose lives were changed by the care they received. As a profession, this is why we do what we do—to make a lasting impact in our communities. Our volunteers came together from every corner of Illinois to unite in a shared mission to provide dental care to anyone in need, regardless of their background or circumstances. We sincerely thank every volunteer, donor, and supporter who made this possible through their generous contributions of time, financial support, and in-kind donations of food and promotional efforts,” said Dr. Michael D. Danner, D.D.S., a Pekin general dentist who serves as MOM Co-Chair.

This event sheds light on the significant challenges many Illinois citizens face in accessing dental care. While it provides relief to some, it underscores the systemic issue at hand. The real solution lies in the hands of the Illinois legislature, which must prioritize adequate funding for the Medicaid program.

Prevention remains the best plan of action. If patients maintain good oral health habits at home and receive basic dental services and restorative services by a dentist, it drastically reduces the need for expensive emergency room visits and extensive treatment, which typically cost ten times more than if the patient had originally been treated by a dentist.

Since 2008, America’s Dentists Care Foundation has supported clinics in 31 states and has provided 290,000 patients with more than $200 million in charitable oral health care.