Volunteering dentists will treat residents' teeth free of charge

For the past five years, Gayle Barrett has tried to ignore the gap where her two front teeth are missing.

She said it's been painful, both emotionally and physically.

But now, the Oklahoma City mom of three plans to visit a free dental clinic opening at 5 a.m. on Feb. 4-5 at the Cox Convention Center. Barrett said she can't wait to join the roughly 2,000 adults and children expected to attend the clinic.

“It would be so wonderful to smile and not have the pain,” Barrett said.

Recently divorced, Barrett said she has struggled with finances after losing her job at a bingo hall. When she checked on the cost of getting her remaining deteriorating teeth pulled so she can get dentures, the cost was nearly $200 per tooth. She said she's concentrated on the children for years but could never afford to spend that much money on herself.

As Barrett spoke, tears slipped down the face of her friend, Rena Wilson.

“This is a major event for her. This is something that she has needed for a long time and she's so grateful,” Wilson said.

About 1,700 dentists and other volunteers will provide free services at the Oklahoma Mission of Mercy first-come, first-served dental clinic next month. There are no income or eligibility requirements.

Gov. Mary Fallin said at a news conference Tuesday at Cox Convention Center that this event will be one of the largest of its kind for the public.

“Dental health is just as important as regular health care for our citizens of Oklahoma because when a person has dental problems it affects how they feel, it affects how they perform on the job. It affects our children and being able to study in school or even attend school,” Fallin said.

Oklahoma ranks lowest in the nation in dental visits, with only 56.7 percent of adults who visited a dentist or dental clinic in 2008, according to the most recent federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data available. Fifty-four percent of Oklahomans 65 and over have lost six or more teeth, the data show.

“There is a tremendous need in Oklahoma,” Fallin said.

Helping children is a key component of the free clinic. One in four American children are born into poverty (annual income of $20,650 or less for a family of four in 2007). Children and teens in poor families suffer twice as much tooth decay as their more affluent peers, and their disease is more likely to go untreated, according to former Gov. Brad Henry's “Governor's Task Force on Children and Oral Health.” About 32 percent of third graders in Oklahoma have untreated tooth decay, data show.

“We are anticipating a large crowd,” Fallin said.

Last year during its first year in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Mission of Mercy event in Tulsa served 1,800 people. The goal is 2,000 this year in Oklahoma City. Next year's clinic will be in McAlester.

Dr. Tamara Berg, president of the Oklahoma Dental Association, said dentists involved in the early free dental clinics in neighboring states got hugs and saw plenty of huge smiles and even tears when patients were handed a mirror to look at their new dental work.

“Lots of warm fuzzies,” she said.

But it's not all about appearances. Left untreated, dental problems can lead to nerve or bone damage or infections that spread to other parts of the body. The dental clinic services include cleanings, fillings, extractions and anterior root canals.

Barrett will let her gums heal after a clinic dentist removes her teeth. Once she has been directed to resources for dentures and gets her new dentures, she's anxious to job hunt and get on with life. First, she's going to eat an apple ... and do something else she hasn't been comfortable doing for years.

“Smile! I will smile at everybody,” she said.

The event worth nearly $1 million in free dental care is organized by the Oklahoma Dental Association and funded by a $150,000 grant from the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Oral Health Foundation.