At least five people with Shawano ties will be among the 1,000 volunteers providing free dental care to an expected 2,000 patients Friday and Saturday at the Wisconsin Dental Association’s Mission of Mercy in Green Bay.
The sixth annual event will provide critical dental care to low-income adults and children. Dentists, orthodontists and dental assistants from more than 200 Wisconsin communities will donate up to $1 million in services and supplies over the two days.
Brittany Rosenow, a 2005 graduate of Shawano Community High School and a dental hygiene student at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, will be among the volunteers. She will educate patients about post-care treatment, including proper oral hygiene, including flossing and brushing.
“The fact that we get to meet people and educate people on proper hygiene, along with helping people not insured, would be a great experience,” she said.
Rosenow said she wanted to pursue dentistry since she was in the eighth grade at Shawano Community Middle School, but decided on being a hygienist two years ago.
Two employees at Dr. Tony Piantek’s Shawano dental clinic, office manager Joy Gruenewald and registered dental assistant Sarah Milavitz, also will be volunteering their time.
Gruenewald will be responsible for directing patients from station to station, such as X-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions and education.
“I want to see what it is all about and see what the patients’ needs are,” Gruenewald said.
Two other local volunteers, dental assistant Katie Popp and dental student Noel Craig, will attend the event for the first time. Popp works at Shawano Orthodontics. Craig is a 2012 SCHS graduate.
There are no residency requirements for patients to receive services. Patients are encouraged to arrive prior to 10 a.m. They will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mission of Mercy locations are rotated around the state each year. The 2013 mission in Lake Geneva drew 2,072 patients and provided about $1.18 million in donated care.
Categories
