DentaQuest Sponsors Free Pop-Up Dental Clinic in Sioux City

WELLESLEY, Mass. — October 10, 2024 — As part of its commitment to invest in underserved communities and expand access to dental care, DentaQuest was proud to be a gold sponsor for this year’s Iowa Mission of Mercy (IMOM) event in Sioux City.

Patients at IMOM, which happened on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5, were seen on a first come, first served basis. In its 15^th year, IMOM in Sioux City was organized by a local committee of volunteers, headed by local dentists Dr. Ammon Anderson, Dr. Jeff Hemmingsen, and Dr. Kiya Stack-Miller. In addition to being a sponsor, several DentaQuest leaders went in person to volunteer. On just the first day, 455 people had at least one service, with donated clinical care totaling nearly $432,000.

Free dental care days are often state-based and organized by state dental associations and their foundations, or organizations like Remote Area Medical USA. Supported by local dentist community efforts and volunteers, free care events are often annual and help provide health services, including dental care, to residents who are un- or underinsured and people who struggle to access our health care system. DentaQuest has supported these free dental care days for 16 years, contributing more than $1.35 million and countless volunteer hours, because people remain in need across the nation.

“The services that a pop-up clinic like the Iowa Mission of Mercy provides remain incredibly important to helping more people access dental care,” said Aaron Washburn, senior executive at DentaQuest. “As the largest Medicaid dental benefits administrator, we know first-hand the challenges individuals face when accessing dental coverage, which is why supporting these free care clinics is essential – right now.”

In the U.S., more than 68 million adults lack access to dental insurance, three times the number of adults who lack health insurance. Uninsured people face a multitude of barriers including socioeconomic factors, racial inequity, transportation, language, cultural disconnects and more. According to the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, people without dental insurance are significantly less likely to have seen the dentist in the last year, have significantly higher odds of citing cost as a barrier to care, and are most likely to report having fair or poor oral health. 

“Iowa needs the Iowa Mission of Mercy to bring necessary preventive and restorative dental care today, and our participation aligns directly with our mission to improve the oral health of all,” Washburn continued. “At DentaQuest, improving the oral health of all means providing access to dental care for all. We envision a future where these missions are no longer the main solution to expanding dental care access and where people can feel secure when scheduling their next dental appointment.”

DentaQuest has focused its efforts on supporting and partnering with various organizations to increase access to preventive oral health care. To learn more about DentaQuest’s community giving efforts, visit https://dentaquest.com/en/about-us/community-giving.