Free dental, vision clinic in David L. Lawrence Convention Center helps underserved patients

PITTSBURGH — If you walk inside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Friday or Saturday, you’ll find 100 dental chairs, 18 eye stations, and 18 hearing stations, as Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh volunteers provide free care to those who need it the most.

A team of medical experts is providing respect and dignity, along with the highest level of care possible, to hundreds of people, and it’s all free of charge. Mission of Mercy’s annual health clinic started in 2017, offering root canals, eye exams, hearing tests and more to patients in the Pittsburgh area dealing with challenges of inflation or out-of-pocket costs.

“This an opportunity to help people in our backyard,” said Keith Young, chairman of Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh. “We have a bit of divisiveness in the world, and I think this is an event that absolutely takes that away and brings everybody together for a common cause.”

The clinic is for adults and children ages two and up, with no eligibility requirements. It is first come, first serve, with people lining up outside overnight to get a spot. Medical screenings are also offered.

“We have diagnosed people to have diabetes that didn’t know they had diabetes, we’ve diagnosed high blood pressure,” said Don Vigliotti, co-lead for medical triage.

Organizers said patients who postpone oral care often end up in the emergency room – thinking, for instance, a toothache went away on its own, but it’s a false sense of security.

“The sensory nerves that give you the sensation of pain actually get destroyed by the infection or die…” said Dan Pituch, chief of oral maxillofacial surgery at UPMC Mercy and Shadyside. “You think you’re out of the woods, but in fact, you’re actually deeper into the woods and in more trouble.”

“A lot of people can’t afford things like this. We’re coming to a point now in life that life is much different than it was when I was coming up,” said John Gaines, a clinic patient

Doors to the clinic open at 6 a.m. Saturday morning and will close when capacity is reached, according to organizers. For more information: https://mompgh.org/

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