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MySpace2 Days. 1,000 Smiles.
by Andrew Festa, Communications Coordinator
The Texas Dental Association’s Smiles Foundation brought its Texas Mission of Mercy (TMOM) to St. Mary’s University in April, using Greehey Arena and the Auxiliary Gym as the center of operations. A total of 1,141 volunteers donated their expertise to people who lack health insurance or funds to visit a dentist, providing much more than routine dental procedures.
San Antonio resident Marian Kaye Harvey, who received treatment along with her two sisters, said she had been worried about having to explain her missing teeth to her inquisitive fourth-grade religious education class.
“Even though Bill Greehey might have thought this was going to be just a simple auditorium or gymnasium, it became a place for hope,” said Harvey, waiting to receive her new partial dentures.
At any given moment, dozens of patients were reclined — mouths open — in the large dental chairs of the 49 miniature exam areas packed into the Auxiliary Gym. Hygienists and other volunteers buzzed around distributing supplies, assisting dentists and taking tools to be sterilized. One doctor brought a $125,000 root canal machine.
Greehey Arena was a combination waiting room, consultation area, X-ray center and snack bar. Student “runners” from St. Mary’s and other area colleges dotted the floor in purple shirts, escorting patients from one station to the next. Even the Tooth Fairy made an appearance — and was quickly put to work.
Three hundred potential patients were screened before the event to ensure their dental conditions could be treated on-site, with offered procedures including extractions, cleanings, fillings, dentures and front-tooth root canals. Patients began checking in at the arena as early as 5 a.m. and waited in the stands for their names to be called.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Victoria Perez, a San Antonio resident who added that she felt in good hands while having a tooth extracted and receiving a partial. “The volunteers all were wonderful.”
When all was drilled and filled, 1,183 patients had received $732,311 in treatments, a record for the program that has held 43 events. As big a spectacle as this event was, TMOM also visits isolated rural towns that might not have a dentist for miles. Since the program began 11 years ago, 21,329 people have received more than $9.7 million in care.
“Texas Mission of Mercy is a collaboration by a lot of agencies and partners to not only see the patients today, but offer hope for their comprehensive care in the future,” said Vidal Balderas, D.D.S. (B.A. ’80), taking a short break from distributing supplies at the April event.
Tables from the Smiles Foundation, CentroMed and CommuniCare were set up to offer advice on continuing care, and children could visit the Cavity-free Corral to learn about dental health.
St. Mary’s graduate Jennifer Meyer Bankler, D.D.S. (B.B.A. ’95, B.A. ’99), dental health program coordinator for the city of San Antonio, helped bring TMOM to the city and to her alma mater.
“It’s a unique situation where the gem of the West Side is in the middle of an area we’d like to serve,” Bankler said. “And St. Mary’s has a group of talented students that would benefit from the service as well.”
Winston Erevelles, Ph.D., dean of the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, said that he was pleased to see the event on campus and added that he received positive feedback from the student volunteers.
“The clinic is an excellent fit with our mission as a Catholic and Marianist institution, and a great opportunity for our students to blend service with academics,” Erevelles said. Additionally, it gave St. Mary’s Pre-Dental Society students an inside look at the community service obligations of professionals.
“I imagine that they gained a deeper appreciation of the needs of so many in our region,” he added. “I look forward to supporting this outstanding service opportunity again in the future.”
The Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center has seen its share of shots, but this kind didn’t exactly thrill the crowd. Not at first, anyway.
Instead of teams of basketball players competing to win a game, for two days this spring it was one team of 129 dentists working together to improve people’s lives.
Even though Bill Greehey might have thought this was going to be just a simple auditorium or gymnasium, it became a place for hope.
— Marian Kaye Harvey,
dental patient
San Antonio resident Marian Kaye Harvey, who received treatment along with her two sisters, said she had been worried about having to explain her missing teeth to her inquisitive fourth-grade religious education class.
“Even though Bill Greehey might have thought this was going to be just a simple auditorium or gymnasium, it became a place for hope,” said Harvey, waiting to receive her new partial dentures.
At any given moment, dozens of patients were reclined — mouths open — in the large dental chairs of the 49 miniature exam areas packed into the Auxiliary Gym. Hygienists and other volunteers buzzed around distributing supplies, assisting dentists and taking tools to be sterilized. One doctor brought a $125,000 root canal machine.
Greehey Arena was a combination waiting room, consultation area, X-ray center and snack bar. Student “runners” from St. Mary’s and other area colleges dotted the floor in purple shirts, escorting patients from one station to the next. Even the Tooth Fairy made an appearance — and was quickly put to work.
Three hundred potential patients were screened before the event to ensure their dental conditions could be treated on-site, with offered procedures including extractions, cleanings, fillings, dentures and front-tooth root canals. Patients began checking in at the arena as early as 5 a.m. and waited in the stands for their names to be called.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Victoria Perez, a San Antonio resident who added that she felt in good hands while having a tooth extracted and receiving a partial. “The volunteers all were wonderful.”
When all was drilled and filled, 1,183 patients had received $732,311 in treatments, a record for the program that has held 43 events. As big a spectacle as this event was, TMOM also visits isolated rural towns that might not have a dentist for miles. Since the program began 11 years ago, 21,329 people have received more than $9.7 million in care.
“Texas Mission of Mercy is a collaboration by a lot of agencies and partners to not only see the patients today, but offer hope for their comprehensive care in the future,” said Vidal Balderas, D.D.S. (B.A. ’80), taking a short break from distributing supplies at the April event.
Tables from the Smiles Foundation, CentroMed and CommuniCare were set up to offer advice on continuing care, and children could visit the Cavity-free Corral to learn about dental health.
St. Mary’s graduate Jennifer Meyer Bankler, D.D.S. (B.B.A. ’95, B.A. ’99), dental health program coordinator for the city of San Antonio, helped bring TMOM to the city and to her alma mater.
“It’s a unique situation where the gem of the West Side is in the middle of an area we’d like to serve,” Bankler said. “And St. Mary’s has a group of talented students that would benefit from the service as well.”
Winston Erevelles, Ph.D., dean of the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, said that he was pleased to see the event on campus and added that he received positive feedback from the student volunteers.
“The clinic is an excellent fit with our mission as a Catholic and Marianist institution, and a great opportunity for our students to blend service with academics,” Erevelles said. Additionally, it gave St. Mary’s Pre-Dental Society students an inside look at the community service obligations of professionals.
“I imagine that they gained a deeper appreciation of the needs of so many in our region,” he added. “I look forward to supporting this outstanding service opportunity again in the future.”
