(KAIR)--Nearly 550 dentists, hygienists and medical providers will be available all day Friday and Saturday to provide free dental care to adults and children at the Landon Arena/Kansas Expocentre.

The Kansas Mission of Mercy, as part of the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation will provide treatment to patients on a first come, served basis with doors opening at 4:30 a.m. The first approximately 1,000 people will be let in before the doors are closed.

Patients should be prepared to wait in line until possibly mid-afternoon.

Absolutely anyone is eligible to receive this free treatment and no proof of income is required nor do patients need to bring their dental records.

This will be the 15th year for this event, and Dr. Larre Betsworth says it gives he and his colleagues a great chance to serve the community, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support they receive.

“It’s an incredible event,” Betsworth said. “The outreach throughout the cities that we do put this on in is incredible. The amount of feedback we get from donations, people helping as far as monetary donations as far as getting food donated to help with this. We have hundreds of volunteers that come in from all over Kansas. They look forward to doing this every year, and this has just became a really great event to put on.”

It is recommended to bring any prescription medications with you so as not to miss any doses. A breakfast and lunch will be provided to those waiting. For more information, go here.

• Patients should continue taking any prescription medication as directed so bring it along so a dose is not missed should the patient have to wait a good portion of the day.

• The patient will need to fill out a brief health history so bring a list of allergies, prescriptions, etc. to have this information available.

• Patients do not need to bring dental records or proof of income.

• Services are first come, first served and ALL patients must be able to wait in line – no appointments.

• The clinic opens at 4:30 am on both Friday and Saturday (Jan. 29-30) and waiting in line or determining how early to get in line, is up to the patient.

• We only let in as many patients as we will be able to treat that day (approximately 1,000) and we will then close the doors. Standing in line on Friday and not getting in does not give the patient priority 

the next day. It is the same process on Saturday, first come, first served.

• Be prepared to wait and potentially be there all day. We let approximately 1,000 patients in the clinic so it may be mid-afternoon before a patient is treated.

• We will provide breakfast and lunch for the patients at no cost to them.

• After a medical screening, the patient will be examined by a dentist at KMOM and the patient’s ngreatest need will be treated. For example, if a patient needs extractions and fillings, the greatest needn(probably the extractions) will be treated at KMOM. The patient does have the option to come back the next day to get the fillings but they must wait in line again like everybody else. No line priority is  given.

• No dentures will be provided at KMOM.

• Full mouth extractions will be done if determined necessary by the examining dentist. The patient will be able to discuss treatment/procedure options with the dentist prior to care.

• We typically have as many volunteers as we need registered prior to KMOM. Therefore, volunteering will not give priority or access to treatment. Registered volunteers who wish to be treated need to manage their schedule so they can wait in line for treatment.

• Minors MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times.

• After treatment, patients will be provided a phone number to call for follow up emergency care if they experience any problems regarding the treatment received at KMOM.