MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church’s annual free dental clinic seems to be making a difference. 

“When we first come into a city, some people haven't had dental care in 20, 30, years, maybe ever in their life,” said Randy Meyer, director of Caring Hands Worldwide, which puts on the clinics through the local congregation. “Last year, I think we had not more than 10 extractions, whereas when we first came it would be like 50 extractions. Once you get the extractions taken care of, they then need fillings, and they need cleaning. So that's what we're working on right now.” 

About 100 people came through each day of the clinic, Meyer said, and about half of those were just there for cleanings. 

“The first year we did this, (we pulled) 15 teeth on one person, because they were so bad and they were so infected, to help the person get dentures,” he said. “But I haven't seen anything like that in the last three or four years.” 

The clinic has been coming to Moses Lake since 2017, with a couple of years off during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to organizer Linda Morgan. The dental services are provided by volunteer dentists and hygienists, who set up in the gym at Crestview Christian School with rows of dental chairs and all the other necessary equipment.  

The clinic was two days long, Friday and Sunday, taking off Saturday for the church’s Sabbath. This year, some returning professionals took care of patients Friday, and dental students from the University of Washington dental school filled in Sunday. A school in the Tri-Cities supplied hygienists and dental assistants. 

“She’s learning stuff that she probably wouldn’t learn until she was out (of school) for a while,” said retired dentist Dr. Marlin Meharry, who was working with a dental assistant student. “I’m teaching at the same time I’m working with her, and … that’s always a good thing, to be able to learn hands-on.” 

Some of the hygienists and assistants were local volunteers. Hygienist Joni McKee, who lives in Ephrata and works at a dental clinic in Quincy, was helping out for the third year, she said. 

“Last year, there was only one hygienist, two for a little bit,” McKee said. \ “This year there's, I think, 10 of us here. That's really allowed each one of us to spend time with people who haven't had a cleaning in a long time, or (who) are having a dental issue that's super urgent … Last year we had to move a little bit quicker to get the help to (the patients).” 

In addition to the dental work, Morgan had lined up professionals to give haircuts and massages, and church volunteers served a free nacho lunch. 

Caring Hands Worldwide, based near Eugene, Ore., offers portable dental clinics across the Northwest, and is planning some in South America, Meyer said. Some of the places they’ve served have a need even greater than Moses Lake’s, he said. 

“Other places on the west coast, we’re full by 7 a.m., and they start arriving at four,” he said. “… It might get even worse, with people not being able to get Medicaid here soon in some places. I'm from Oregon, we have the Oregon Health Plan (on which) people sometimes have to wait six months to get in to see the dentist. Six months is a long time if you've got an infection that could kill you in three months.” 

CHW has more than 1,000 volunteers across all of its clinics, Meyer said. Some of them travel long distances to help. Dr. Bob Meharry, Marlin Meharry’s cousin, had a comparatively short trip; he has a practice in Hermiston, Ore. 

“I like volunteering, doing free dental work clinics like this,” he said. “I get a blessing out of helping other people when I know that there's nothing coming back to me, other than a thank-you.” 

“I feel like God has given me a talent, and I like to use that talent as long as I can, as long as I'm physically able,” Marlin Meharry said. 

    Retired dentist Dr. Marlin Meharry came up from South Carolina to serve patients at the free dental clinic last weekend.
  

    Volunteers from Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church serve a free nacho lunch for patients and families at the church’s free dental clinic Friday.