Nearly 2,000 people are expected to get a free dental visit in Solano County next month, as the California Dental Association Foundation hosts a CDA Cares free dental clinic March 8-9 at the Solano County Fairgrounds, it was announced.
Doors open at 5:30 a.m. both days and patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis with a goal of providing care to about 1,950 people during the two-day clinic, organizers said.
The services offered are limited to extractions, fillings, cleanings, some partial and full dentures, limited root canals, oral health education and assistance in finding a source for future dental care.
Uncontrolled blood pressure or diabetes may prevent patients from receiving dental care at the event — be sure to take prescribed medications as directed.
Parking for the event is free and no identification is required. Interpreters are available.
The foundation is also recruiting volunteers for the upcoming dental event at Vallejo’s Solano County Fairgrounds.
To help provide oral health care services at no charge to the large number of expected patients, the CDA Foundation needs volunteer dentists, including oral surgeons, as well as dental hygienists, assistants, dental lab technicians, physicians, nurses and pharmacists, organizers said.
Community volunteers are also needed to help guide patients, translate/interpret, dispense medication, set up and tear down the clinic, register patients and volunteers, conduct exit interviews, enter data and provide oral health education, they said.
To date, the foundation and CDA have hosted 14 clinics that provided $22.35 million in dental care to more than 27,000 people thanks to the generosity of volunteers and support from the community, organizers said.
Volunteers are needed in shifts during the following times:
- Thursday, March 7: Clinic setup from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (no patients)
- Friday, March 8: Dental clinic from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, March 9: Dental clinic from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. (including clinic breakdown)
Volunteers can sign up for one six-hour shift or multiple shifts per day. To learn how you can get involved and to register, go to cdafoundation.org/solano, or call 877-516-8854.