- Mission of Mercy 2012 goals
- Estimated totals
- Press releases
- MOM facts
- Donors
- Spokespersons
- MOM logo
- About the WDA and WDA Foundation
- Oral health story ideas
- Contact
TOP
In just two days:
- 1,810 volunteers, including 395 dentists
- 3,595 patient visits
- $1.75 million in donated care
- 1,205 cleanings
- 2,567 fillings
- 2,822 extractions
- 80 root canals
- 153 partial dentures
TOP
More than 3,000 patients get $1.75 million in free dental care at record-setting WDA Mission of Mercy
WEST ALLIS, WIS., July 2, 2012 – A record $1.75 million in charitable dental care was provided to 3,043 children and adults during 3,595 patient visits at the fourth Wisconsin Dental Association and WDA Foundation Mission of Mercy held June 29 and 30 at the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis.
Media Alert: 3,000+ children, adults and seniors to receive $1.75 million in free dental care June 29 and 30 in Madison
Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center to be transformed into largest charitable dental clinic ever staged in United States for fourth WDA and WDA Foundation Mission of Mercy free dental clinic.
More than 1,500 volunteers from 222 communities will provide $1.75 million in free dental care at largest Mission of Mercy ever in U.S.
WEST ALLIS, WIS., June 20, 2012 – More than 1,500 volunteers from 222 Wisconsin communities will be in Madison, Wis. June 29 – 30 to provide $1.75 million in free dental care to some 3,000 children and adults during the fourth WDA and WDA Foundation Mission of Mercy.
WDA Mission of Mercy to provide free dental care to 50 Special Olympians
WEST ALLIS, WIS., June 13, 2012 – The Wisconsin Dental Association and WDA Foundation have again teamed up with Special Olympics Wisconsin to identify 50 athletes who will receive needed oral health care at the fourth Mission of Mercy being held June 29 and 30 in Madison.
Largest charitable dental clinic ever in U.S. coming to Madison on June 29-30
WEST ALLIS, WIS., June 5, 2012 – The Wisconsin Dental Association and WDA Foundation are bringing their fourth annual WDA Mission of Mercy to the Exhibition Hall at Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison on June 29 and 30 to provide free dental care to children and adults who have limited financial resources or are otherwise unable to visit a dental office.
TOP
U.S. Surgeon General recognizes oral health as an integral part of a person’s total health, with the dentist being the primary oral health care provider.
Goals of the Wisconsin Dental Association Foundation and WDA Mission of Mercy:
- Provide free, critical dental care with a high priority on treating patients in pain and with infections.
- Raise public awareness of the barriers to dental care faced by low-income adults and children.
- Challenge patients, policymakers and dental professionals to work together to make viable and bipartisan “Healthy Choices” that will improve Wisconsin residents’ oral health.
The fourth WDA Mission of Mercy will be held June 29 – 30, 2012 in Madison at the Alliant Energy Center’s Exhibition Hall. Set up is June 28 and clean up is July 1.
- Having the event in Madison will give elected officials a chance to see firsthand the barriers many Wisconsin residents face in accessing critical dental care.
Billed as the largest Mission of Mercy ever staged in the United States, goals for this “twice as nice” or “mega” MOM include:
- Provide $1.75 million in free dental treatment and personal oral hygiene education through 3,500 or more patient encounters.
- Care offered includes cleanings, fillings, extractions and limited treatment partials.
- Education is the most cost-effective way to reduce oral disease. A special program helps educate WDA MOM patients about the importance of good daily oral hygiene practices, healthy diet and routine preventive dental care.
- Doors open at 5:30 a.m. There are no appointments and patients are treated on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is encouraged. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- More than 1,500 volunteers, including dentists, dental hygienists and assistants, lab technicians, Marquette University School of Dentistry students and community members from across Wisconsin will be involved.
- More than 5,600 people have received $2.8 million in free care at WDA Mission of Mercy events since 2009.
While we are unable to provide care to patients with medically compromising conditions (e.g., extremely high blood pressure, severe disabilities) at MOM, arrangements have been made to treat 50 pre-screened Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes.
Tax deductible financial donations and in-kind contributions may be made through the WDA Foundation to help cover $250,000 in costs for dental equipment and facility rental, supplies, pharmaceuticals and food at WDA MOM.
- For every dollar received, WDA dentists and other MOM volunteers donate $6 – $8 in needed care.
- Major support in 2012 provided by Delta Dental of Wisconsin and Henry Schein Dental with more than 50 other organizations and individuals making donations.
Dentists do serve their communities, but charity is not a sufficient health care system for meeting the needs of individuals with limited financial resources, including the 1 million children and adults who annually receive medical assistance.
- State fee-for-service Medicaid data (fiscal year 2010) shows $146.6 million in dental care provided with state and federal governments having paid just $58 million (39 percent) toward that care and participating dentists donating the balance of $88.6 million in services. The dental community donates more in care than the state and federal governments combined pay for.
- 37 percent of WDA dentists were MA-certified providers in 2011. When surveyed, 81 percent said they would consider seeing MA patients or see more MA patients if reimbursement to private practices was equal that paid to Federally Qualified Health Centers (about double the rate).
- Click here to read more about dentists’ charitable care efforts.
Ensuring residents have proper dental care is important to our state economically and socially.
TOP
For each WDA Mission of Mercy event, funds are needed to help cover dental equipment and facility rental, supplies, pharmaceuticals and food costs. For every $1 received we are able to provide $6 – $8 of care.
TOP
Dr. Thomas (Tom) Raimann, 2013 WDA Mission of Mercy state chair
Dr. Tom Raimann has a private, general dental practice in Hales Corners, Wis. and works part-time at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Dental Clinic on Milwaukee’s south side.
Dr. Raimann is chair of the fifth WDA Mission of Mercy being held this June 28 – 29 in Walworth County.
As vice chair of the MOM State Committee in 2011 and 2012, he headed up clinic operations at the Madison and Wausau events.
Dr. Raimann has represented the Greater Milwaukee Region on the WDA Board of Trustees since 2007 and is a member of that organization’s Executive Committee. He is a past-president of the Greater Milwaukee Dental Association.
His charitable dental care efforts include multiple years as chair of the area’s Head Start Dental Day and Give Kids A Smile® volunteer. In 2006, Dr. Raimann received the WDA Pyramid of Pride Community Outreach Award.
A graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry, Dr. Raimann is chair of the Wisconsin Section of the American College of Dentists. He is also a fellow in the International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy.
Dr. Allison Dowd, 2013 WDA Mission of Mercy state vice chair
Dr. Allison Dowd is a resident of Middleton and pediatric dentist with Children’s Dental Center of Madison working in the group’s Fitchburg office. This multiple-dentist group practice sees a significant number of children enrolled in Wisconsin’s dental Medicaid and BadgerCare programs.
Dr. Dowd is vice chair of the fifth WDA Mission of Mercy being held this June 28 – 29 in Walworth County.
She chaired the Local MOM Committee in 2012 when the event was held in Madison. Prior to that, she headed up the pediatric dental section at the 2009, 2010 and 2011 WDA MOM events.
In addition to her private practice, Dr. Dowd is chief of Pediatric Dentistry at the Max Pohle Dental Clinic at Meriter Hospital where she is involved in the education of dental residents. She serves on Dean Medical Clinic’s cleft lip and palate team, is a clinical instructor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and conducts a lecture series on dental treatment for children with special health care needs through the Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin.
A graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry, Dr. Dowd earned her certificate in pediatric dentistry from Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colo. She is an active member of the American Dental Association, Wisconsin Dental Association and Dane County Dental Society. Dr. Dowd also is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and Wisconsin Society of Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Robert (Bob) Dillman, 2013 WDA Mission of Mercy state co-chair
Dr. Bob Dillman has lived in Lake Geneva for the past 25 years. A general dentist, he is part of a multi-dentist group serving the Geneva Lakes area.
Dr. Dillman is co-chair of this year’s WDA Mission of Mercy Local Committee. A volunteer at past events, he has been instrumental in bringing the fifth WDA MOM to the south central area of the state.
After earning his undergraduate degree at Marquette University, Dr. Dillman got a DDS from the University of Iowa. He then completed a two-year hospital residency program at the University of Virginia.
Dr. Dillman is a member of the American Dental Association, Wisconsin Dental Association and Academy of General Dentistry. He is a past-president of the Burlington Dental Society and represented his local dental society in the WDA House of Delegates.
A key player in establishing a volunteer dental clinic for disabled individuals at Inspiration Ministries in Walworth, Wis., Dr. Dillman also serves on the Open Arms Clinic board. This organization provides medical care for the underserved.
He donates his time and skills as a doctor of oral health through several programs, including MOM, Dentistry from the Heart and Touched Twice, as well as mission trips to Honduras.
Mrs. Judy Johnson, 2013 WDA Mission of Mercy local co-chair
Mrs. Johnson was a general volunteer at the 2012 WDA Mission of Mercy in Madison 
before becoming co-chair of this year’s MOM Local Committee.
Her work as a board member and fundraising chair for the Open Arms Free Clinic helped her recognize the need for dental care for low-income children and adults throughout the south central area of the state.
A Williams Bay resident for 14 years, Mrs. Johnson has also been active in the Women’s Civic League, St. Benedict Catholic Church and other community organizations. She was named 2006 Citizen of the Year by the Geneva Lake West Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to moving to Wisconsin, Mrs. Johnson and her family lived in Peoria, Ill. where she taught prekindergarten through third grade from 1980 – 1999. After retiring and moving to the Badger State, she worked part-time for eight years supervising early childhood and special education student teachers at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
View WDA officer bios and photos in the Media Room.
TOP
Click the image below to download the WDA Mission of Mercy logo:
About the WDA and WDA Foundation
The WDA was established in 1870. With more than 3,000 members statewide, the WDA represents 85 percent of all licensed dentists and a growing number of dental hygienists in Wisconsin – all choosing to belong to organized dentistry. WDA members are committed to promoting professional excellence and quality oral health care.
As the philanthropic arm of the Wisconsin Dental Association, the WDA Foundation is committed to making a difference by improving the oral health of Wisconsin residents through its support of projects that provide dental care for the disadvantaged while meeting the current and future needs of the dental profession.
TOP
Reporting on a dental health topic or looking for a story idea? Contact the WDA for dental health information and/or to arrange an interview with a dentist on a specific topic.
TOP
For media inquiries and assistance, please contact:
Carol Weber, APR
WDA Director of Public Relations
6737 W. Washington St., Suite 2360
West Allis, WI 53214
414-755-4108 (direct)
414-315-9321 (cell)
cweber@wda.org
