In the North Sound, free emergency dental work is being offered to anyone who needs it.
Each patient is being treated in the back of a mobile dental clinic, complete with a dental chair for patients, a waiting room for guests, a work station for medical professionals.
“It’s really sweet. It’s the sweetest thing in a long time,” said Kandice Scott, a patient who was among the first to arrive at the mobile site.
After an excruciating night of tooth pain, Scott told KIRO 7 News she was just happy to have the opportunity to be seen by a dentist.
“Thank the Lord! Because this tooth needs to come out,” she exclaimed.
For the next several weeks, dental volunteers will be at the following locations:
-Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m: Alderwood Community Church, 3403 Alderwood Mall Blvd., Lynnwood, WA 98036
-Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m: Lynnwood Food Bank, 5320 176th St SW, Lynnwood, WA 98037
All of it is free with the requirement that someone must be having a dental emergency like an infection, severe pain, or swelling.
Routine dental work like cleanings and cavity fillings will not be provided.
“Tooth pain is one of the worst pains in the world,” Scott said. “I have two kids and it’s worse than labor pains.”
Scott’s relief is coming from those with Medical Teams International.
They’re a group of volunteers providing free dental work to those in tough situations, especially during this coronavirus crisis.
“We realized that what’s going to happen is that patients are going to end up in the emergency room with dental pain and dental concerns and they don’t have any other way to get it,” said Cindy Breilh, executive director for Medical Teams International.
As part of the program, anyone with emergency dental needs can show up.
Already, administrators said there was a demand for more volunteers.
“We’re looking for dentists, dental assistants, other dentists that can help us with screening, medical professionals,” Breilh told KIRO 7 News.
Anyone interested in volunteering with Medical Teams International is asked to visit: https://www.medicalteams.org/volunteer/