NM MOM is a large-scale dental clinic where about 100 portable dental stations are set up in a public arena, and dental screenings and services are provided at no charge to those who attend.

Patients are treated on a first-come, first-served basis. They wait their turn to see a nurse and a dentist for an initial evaluation, and to have their dental needs prioritized.

As dentists and dental hygienists become available, patients are guided to areas of the dental clinic where they undergo preventive (teeth cleaning), restorative (fillings), endodontic (root canal treatments), prosthodontic (treatment partials), and/or surgical procedures. During the dental clinic, patients are provided with instruction on how to care for their teeth. Bilingual volunteers are available throughout the clinic experience to assist non-English speaking patients.

The second New Mexico Mission of Mercy will be held:
March 2-3, 2012 in Las Cruces, New Mexico
Clinic hours are from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm
(No appointments - first come, first served. The number of patients treated will be limited to clinic capacity.)

Las Cruces Convention Center
680 E University Ave.
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001
Located at the corner of East University and Jordan Avenues
Go to Volunteer Information and Click on the Directions/Parking button to view a map and complete directions.

Each day at the New Mexico Dental Foundation, calls are received from individuals who desperately need dental care - people who are in pain, frustrated, and yet hope that the person answering the phone will have a solution to help them.

Several remarkable organizations exist that offer low-cost dental services for children, the elderly, people with disabilities, the homeless, and people living with HIV/AIDS. However, many individuals don't fit into these categories and are without dental insurance and unable to afford dental treatment.

Seeing this need, the NMDF and its dentists chose to bring Mission of Mercy to New Mexico to help. Patients can travel from all areas of New Mexico to benefit from this free clinic. This clinic is for low- or no-income New Mexicans who cannot pay for dental care.

In 2010, the inaugural NM MOM was held in Albuquerque, NM. It was a huge success. A total of 1.3 million dollars in dental services was donated. This event pulled together 1700 volunteers who served over 2200 New Mexico residents and performed 8724 procedures. The 2010 MOM event was the single largest charitable event in New Mexico history.

Click on the Patient Information button to learn about who should come, when to come, what to expect, what to bring, and more . . .

Register to volunteer at NM MOM by clicking the Volunteer Registration button! Dental professionals and non-dental professionals can help in a variety of ways.

Anyone involved directly with patient care will need to have a heptavax vaccination.

Click the Volunteer Information button to learn more about volunteer opportunities, location, food, hotel accommodations, and more . . .

The NM MOM clinic will have portable dental units that include a patient chair, free standing light, and an operative unit connected to water and vacuum lines. Basic dental instruments will also be provided.

Volunteers, click the Dental Equipment/Supplies button under volunteer information to get information about the dental instruments and supplies that will be available at the NM MOM dental clinic. Most items needed will be provided by NM MOM.

Absolutely! Dentists and dental hygienists, with a license in good standing from their respective state, may volunteer for the New Mexico Mission of Mercy program.

Our MOM Las Cruces event has received official sanctioning from the state licensing board. Dentists and dental hygienists, with a license in good standing from their respective state, may volunteer for charity programs in New Mexico by applying for a temporary license. New Mexico law allows dentists and hygienists to volunteer for an event such as NM MOM for five consecutive days per year.

The NMDF needs to provide the New Mexico State Board of Dental Health with a list of visiting dentists and hygienists by Wednesday, February 1, 2012. This will enable the Board to verify the license status of out-of-state volunteers for the March NM MOM event. Once you register online, as an out of state professional, you will receive a packet to complete via email that must be returned by mail. Please submit the temporary licensure paperwork by January 15, 2012 to: NMDF, PO Box 16854, Albuquerque, NM 87191. If you have any questions please call Trish Rule at 505.681.2188.

If the dentistry school you graduated from is not a CODA accredited school, by New Mexico state law you are not eligible for a temporary license and you will not be able to treat patients. If you would like to help, but fall into this category, please volunteer in our dental triage area.

Public health dental professionals can obtain liability coverage through the State Tort Claims Act for the NM MOM event by completing paperwork online at www.nmmrcserves.org. On the right side of this website welcome page, click "Register Here" and accept the terms and conditions. Then log on or click "Register" to create your log in. Once completed fill out the appropriate forms and submit for approval. Please follow the instructions on the website.

Since NM MOM patients are not charged for the dental services they receive, financial support is a great need of this program. NM MOM is a program of the NMDF (New Mexico Dental Foundation), a 501(c)3 organization, and all contributions are tax deductible. Please go to the Make a Contribution button...

Noncash donations to NM MOM are welcomed. In-kind contributions can include an array of things including dental and office supplies, duplicating services, and food and water for volunteers and patients.

To learn about NM MOM's in-kind needs, please contact Terri Sugarman, On-site Program Coordinator, at 575.644.3238.