Local orthodontist Dr. Blaine Langberg recently volunteered his time and services at Connecticut’s Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic. Held at the West Conn campus on March 21, the clinic offered free dental care to thousands in the Connecticut region.
“It was an amazing event,” says Dr. Langberg. “People were lined up waiting outside before the clinic even opened. While this was my first time volunteering for this particular clinic, it definitely won’t be my last. It was a life-changing opportunity for me, and I was privileged to have been a part of it.”
The Connecticut Mission of Mercy, or CTMOM, is a two-day clinic that provides free dental care to the underserved and uninsured in Connecticut – those who would otherwise go without dental care. The Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach in collaboration with the Connecticut State Dental Association held the state’s first Mission of Mercy project in 2008. Every year, the CTMOM project is held in a different location throughout the state.
Dr. Langberg worked in the prosthetic department where he helped to transform smiles throughout the day. “We worked with one man who had been missing his front teeth for five years. When he left that day, he had a beautiful new smile. He was so grateful,” says Dr. Langberg. “It was such rewarding work. Another man brought his father from Ghana, because he didn’t have access to dental care there.” Dr. Langberg worked alongside several other Ridgefield dentists and hygienists. “It was fun to see my colleagues outside our normal environment. Everyone worked hard, and came together for this important cause.”