This article was originally featured in the October 2024 edition of the VDA Journal, published by the Virginia Dental association.

Kimberly Crawford is a proud lifelong resident of Wise, Virginia. She is the epitome of Appalachian kindness with her warm smile. Once she starts talking about her family and her love for her community, it’s difficult for her to stop. 

Despite the hardships she had faced in her life, she remained optimistic. Therefore, receiving a new smile at the Missions of Mercy event in Wise, Virginia, felt like a reward that was a long time coming.

Crawford lost her teeth to decay after experiencing struggles with her health. Due to a lack of access to healthcare or dental care, she was unable to maintain her oral health. The passing of her mother and husband led to a long battle with depression, where she admits she neglected her oral health even more.

For Crawford and many residents of Wise and its surrounding areas, access to dental care and education is difficult. For many people, Medicaid is not accepted by many dental practices and dentists can be few and far between. 

“I had been trying for the past two years to find a dentist that could take me,” Crawford said. “There’s so many limitations with Medicaid and finding care you can afford; this and the Health Wagon were the only things I could find.”

For 25 years, the Virginia Dental Association Foundation has been hosting Missions of Mercy events in Wise, Virginia. VCU School of Dentistry students, faculty and staff travel to Wise to give free dental care to patients in need. During this time, Missions of Mercy has served more than 25,000 patients and provided over $22 million in free dental services in Wise alone. 

At the 25th MOM project, 612 patients were treated with an estimated value of 570,607 dollars. 

Crawford attended the Missions of Mercy event along with her two sons. She came this year in hopes of receiving a replacement for her missing teeth. Her sons also received oral treatment at the event.

“It means a lot that people come here to help,” Crawford said. “More than I can say.”

Crawford’s case was taken on by Ali Mojarad, D.D.S., a recent graduate of VCU School of Dentistry and current periodontics resident.

For Mojarad, giving patients life-changing treatment at Missions of Mercy is what initially inspired him to become a dentist. He first gained exposure to the project as an undergraduate student at George Mason University. There, he made friendships that he maintains to this day and learned crucial skills in dentistry.

“It’s so rewarding to see how grateful they are,” Mojarad said. “Being able to make a difference in someone’s life is the best part.”

Mojarad was Crawford’s initial person of contact, and he extracted her maxillary anterior teeth, which made it urgent for her to receive a flipper, a removable, temporary prosthetic tooth replacement that can be used to fill in gaps in your smile.

“She was the first patient that I saw that day,” he said. “We wanted to make sure that after the extraction, she was able to go to prosthodontics and get a partial denture  to fill in those gaps.”

The task of creating the partial denture tooth was taken on by Lyndon Cooper, D.D.S., Ph.D., dean of VCU School of Dentistry. Cooper is an internationally recognized prosthodontist. 

“There is a responsibility as a dental provider to assist underserved populations and find solutions for the need for oral healthcare that continue to exist in rural areas,” Cooper said. “I have great pride and admiration for all of the students, faculty and dentists from around the state that attend these events and treat patients with such care.”

The process of creating a partial denture starts with making an impression of the mouth. Cooper, along with student assistants, created the prosthesis using the impression in a makeshift laboratory at Wise.. After a few adjustments, the temporary partial denture was completed.

“Creating a prosthesis for a patient is not a new experience, but getting to witness the joy they feel and how it changes their life is an experience that never gets old,” Cooper said. “It’s a testament to the importance of our work.”

Crawford expressed her belief in the importance of seeking out care, even when it can be challenging.

“Do whatever you can for your health,” Crawford said. “It’s worth it. Always.”

For Crawford, it was the start of a new beginning. She became emotional upon receiving her new smile and struggled to find words to express her happiness.

“It’s like receiving a new lease on life,” Crawford said. “I’m really excited to smile again. My birthday is coming up and it feels like I can start new. This was the best gift I could receive.”