HUCD serves as 2025 Mission of Mercy/Piedmont Smiles

Hundreds of community members filled the halls of Liberty High School in Bealeton, Virginia, for the fourth annual Piedmont Smiles Mission of Mercy (MOM) event—a one-day pop-up clinic offering free dental care to those in need.

 

This year, 16 HUCD dental students and one pediatric dentistry resident joined hundreds of volunteer dentists, hygienists, and medical professionals from across Virginia and Washington, D.C. Together, they provided free X-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and oral health education to 280 patients who otherwise might not have access to care.

 

For HUCD, this marked the fourth consecutive year of participation in the Mission of Mercy initiative, a collaboration among the Virginia Dental Association Foundation, the Fauquier Free Clinic, and regional partners including Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry and Germanna Community College.

 

The event’s impact extended far beyond clinical care—volunteers shared stories of gratitude and connection as patients received not only treatment, but also health education, blood pressure screenings, and referrals for ongoing care.

“Everyone who walks through these doors deserves to feel cared for,” said Dr. Courtney Ashby, volunteer dentist. “Our goal is to help people leave here not only free from pain, but with a reason to smile again.”

HUCD’s ongoing participation reflects the College’s enduring commitment to service, compassion, and community partnership—values that lie at the heart of its mission to advance oral health equity.