Free adult dental care clinic will return to Wicomico Civic Center in September

SALISBURY, Md. – An event connecting Delmarva residents with free dental care is returning to the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center. The event kicks off September 13th and 14th. Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy (ESMoM) organizers say Salisbury will see new hope and brightened smiles.

Service With a Smile

You must be 18 years old or older to receive the services including cleanings, extractions, fillings, and more.

“You don’t need to be anything other than a human with a need for dental care,” said organizer Sue Simmons. “We don’t care if you own a house, we don’t care if you live unsheltered, we don’t care if you have ID or insurance or money. You come, we’ll serve you.”

The care will be provided by licensed dentists and hygienists who are donating their time and expertise. ESMoM was started in 2013, and additional events were held in 2015 and 2019. In total, more than $3.1 million in services were provided with the help of 4,3000 volunteers, donating 36,500 combined hours of their time.

“Come with a level of patience and awareness,” Simmons advised patients. “This is 100% volunteer-driven.”

All Hands on Deck

Simmons expects the ESMoM’s return to be highly attended. She predicts that folks will start queuing up outside the Civic Center early in the morning. Services will be provided until capacity is met each day.

“Post-COVID is a different space and place. So, on some level, we are rebuilding,” Simmons said. “We are looking at this from a continuous improvement plan, and I’m incredibly optimistic, not only about what’s going to happen this year, but also [again] in 2026.”

In addition to clinical professionals, Simmons says ESMoM needs volunteers to help with the overall patient experience. That includes escorts, registration, exit surveys, and taking care of those in the waiting areas.

“There are plenty of opportunities for volunteers that don’t have a clinical background—that have a compassion and heart for service,” Simmons said.

Immediate Relief, Life-Long Impacts

And while the dental work helps to provide immediate relief, Simmons says the impacts are life-long.

“Can you imagine having a toothache that you’ve been living with for years because you have a limited income?” Simmons said. “I can recall in Missions past people approaching me [cover their mouths] and saying ‘I just want to be able to smile again.'”

For more information about how you can get involved in the Mission, click here.