Waukesha Dentists Participate in Mission of Mercy

Three Waukesha dentists donated participated in the Wisconsin Dental Association and WDA Foundation’s third Mission of Mercy last weekend, according to the Wisconsin Dental Association

Several Waukesha dentists and hygienists were present at event, which provided an estimated $1.12 million in charitable dental care, according to the Wisconsin Dental Association. Those people are:

• Phillip Bangle, general dentist
• Deb Beres, hygienist
• Nancy Gasse, dental assistant
• Mena Ghaly, dental student
• Gen Giacomantonio, hygienist
• Constance Gray, hygienist
• Patricia Hallingstad, general volunteer
• Christopher Hill, dental student
• Penny Loomis, dental assistant
• Tim Novak, oral surgeon
• Rachelle Richter, general volunteer
• Daniel Roeland, lab technician
• Gene Shoemaker, WDA preident
• Joe Best, dentist

A total of 8,033 dental procedures were performed, including 1,822 fillings, 1,756 teeth extracted, 593 cleanings and 22 root canals. Several dental labs worked with volunteer technicians to create 90 partial dentures.

Some 215 WDA dentists, along with dental hygienists and assistants and Marquette University School of Dentistry students were among the 1,050 volunteers from 163 Wisconsin communities who helped.

"We were prepared to treat more patients, but the demand for care in central Wisconsin was on par with what we saw in La Crosse in 2009 and Sheboygan in 2010," said WDA President Dr. Gene Shoemaker of Waukesha,

More than 70 organizations and individuals helped make this year's WDA MOM possible with $160,000 in tax-deductible financial and in-kind donations. These gifts defray the costs for dental equipment and facility rental, supplies, pharmaceuticals and food for volunteers and patients. On average, $5 to $7 in care is donated for every one dollar received.

Since 2009, the three WDA Mission of Mercy events have delivered more than $2.9 million in charitable care through more than 5,700 patient visits.

This information came from a Wisconsin Dental Association news release.