FAQs - All Volunteers

The FDA Foundation launched its signature philanthropic program in 2014, the Florida Mission of Mercy (FLA-MOM). FLA-MOM is the state's largest charitable dental clinic that provides care to any patient at no cost, with the goal of serving the underserved and uninsured in Florida.

The Florida Mission of Mercy seeks to have a positive impact on communities by providing important access to dental care while restoring dignity and creating smiles.

We are happy to announce that the tenth Florida Mission of Mercy will be held in Daytona Beach, FL at Mainland High School. 

Florida Mission of Mercy
March 21 - 22, 2025

Mainland High School, 1255 W. International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Florida Mission of Mercy
March 21 - 22, 2025

Mainland High School

1255 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Please click the link below to register to volunteer at FLA-MOM:

Due to liability reasons, all FLA-MOM volunteers working in the clinic must be at least 18 years old. 

Volunteers ages 16 - 17 years old can volunteer in the parking lot or assist with clinic set up/breakdown when the clinic does NOT have patients being treated.

When volunteering, please do not bring children or siblings under the age of 18 with you - this is for safety and liability reasons.

• Cleanings
• Fillings
• Extractions
• Some Root canals
• Oral health education
• Pediatric dentistry
• X-rays

• Bone grafting
• Braces
• Crowns
• Extraction of unerupted wisdom teeth
• Gum surgery
• Implants
• Narcotics
• Tooth whitening (bleaching)

Our goal is to treat as many people as we can while placing a priority on relieving dental pain and treating infections.

Patients will begin with registration and oral health education before they are assessed in medical triage. Patients will then receive a full panoramic X-ray followed by a consultation in dental triage to determine the patient's most urgent need.

In order to treat as many patients as possible, treatment is limited to one quadrant of the patient’s mouth where there is the most critical need. Once primary treatment is complete, patients may get back in line for additional treatment if we are still accepting patients for the day.

Yes! There are several shift options available. You can volunteer for a half or full day shift and volunteers are needed with clinic set up, patient treatment and clinic break down.

All volunteers will be given a FLA-MOM T-shirt, which they will be required to wear during the clinic. Dress is casual, but please wear long pants (scrubs, conservative yoga pants or jeans with no holes) and comfortable closed-toe shoes.

Volunteers will receive parking instructions, a parking map, and a parking pass one week prior to the event. Designated disabled spots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Yes, FLA-MOM provides breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beverages for volunteers.

Food selection may vary - please know that we are serving more than 500 volunteers per meal. If you have special dietary needs, you may want to consider packing a cooler with items specific to your needs.

Clinical Volunteers

Dentists and dental hygienists who wish to volunteer in a clinical capacity (i.e. providing treatment) must complete their volunteer registration by March 1, 2025, in order for staff to verify licenses and ensure that all clinical positions are filled.

Dentists and dental hygienists must have a clear and active license to provide treatment services to FLA-MOM patients. 

• Retired dentists without an active dental license cannot volunteer in a clinical capacity – this includes dental triage or routing.
  

• Dentists who do not have an active license can volunteer in a non-clinical position (ex lab, sterilization, patient education, patient registration, patient ambassador).
  

• Out-of-state dentists must register by February 7, 2025, to allow time for your credentials to be reviewed.  A separate survey will be emailed to you.
  

• Out of state hygienists CANNOT treat patients in a clinical role.  They may volunteer in a non-clinical role such as radiology, patient registration, patient education, sterilization, or they may volunteer as a patient ambassador. 
  

• Internationally trained dentists who HAVE NOT received a degree from a dental education program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, CANNOT treat patients as a dentist.
  

General Volunteers

Registration will stay open for general volunteers throughout the duration of the event.

Due to liability reasons, all volunteers must be at least 18 years old to volunteer in the clinic. Volunteers 16 or 17 years old may ONLY volunteer in the parking lot.

Registration Categories

• Dentist - must have an active Florida (or out of state) dental license in good standing. 
• D4 Dental Student
• D1-D3 Dental Student
• Internationally trained Dentist - internationally-trained dentists, who have not received a degree from a dental education program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, CANNOT treat patients as a dentist.
• Dental Hygienist - must have an active Florida license in good standing.  Out of state hygienists may not treat patients as dental hygienists.
• Dental Assistant
• Lab Tech
• Physician, Physician Assistant, Nurse, Medical Assistant, EMT - work in medical triage.
• Student - Nursing Student, EMT Student.
• Dental Office Manager - volunteers with great organizational skills to direct the flow of a particular clinical department (patient arrival to the department, patient flow to the treatment chair and patient exit).
• Dental Office Front End Staff - volunteers that have a broad knowledge of checking patients in and out of the office.  Proficient at data entry at patient registration and especially at patient exit when the patient leaves a dental department.
• Student - Dental Hygiene Student, Dental Assistant Student, Pre-Dental Student.
• Community Volunteer 18+ years old- general volunteers with no dental experience.
• Community Volunteer 16 & 17 years old - general volunteer.
• Visitor - City, County or State Official; MOM Representative, Educator, Other
• FDA Staff Member
  

Volunteer Shifts

AM and PM volunteer shifts are available. 

You may register for AM or PM shifts, and you may register for more than one volunteer shift.  You may switch volunteer shifts at the conclusion of your scheduled shift, or you may keep the same position.  Please select a position you will be comfortable performing for six to seven hours.  

Hygienists may only work one hygiene shift per day.  D4 Dental Students may only work one D4 shift per day.

Each shift has a maximum number of slots and will be filled on a first come, first served basis.  Since specialists are limited to practice in their specialty, we ask that general dentists consider signing up for shifts like restorative, dental triage, medical triage, etc.

Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Patients who are in pain often have an accompanying infection.

FLA-MOM does not want anyone to wait until the event to seek critical dental or medical attention, as delaying could lead to more serious consequences.

While the goal is to be able to treat as many patients as possible, there is no guarantee of treatment. Every attempt will be made to care for those who are present.

It takes approximately 1,000 non-dental volunteers to support FLA-MOM in positions such as:

• Patient Registration
• Volunteer Registration
• Hospitality
• Patient Ambassadors (escort patients through departments)
• Parking
• Physicians & Nurses
• EMTs

If you are unable to volunteer, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to FLA-MOM by visiting flamom.org.

Please note that all volunteers will receive a volunteer certificate with their service hours. Clinical volunteers may use this volunteer certificate and self-report hours needed to appropriate agencies.

Credit awarded for pro bono volunteer hours is accepted at the discretion of the agency to which you report CEU's. Per the Florida Board of Dentistry, "Dentists and dental hygienists may obtain a maximum of six (6) hours per biennium of required continuing education credit for participating in such programs.  Continuing education credit shall be calculated at a ratio of 1 continuing education credit for each 1 hour of patient services provided to approved programs." FS 64B5-12.013(8)e

Florida licensed attendees must self-report pro bono credit hours to CE Broker for license renewal.  These credits will be reported to the category "pro bono services."

CEU credit is only applicable for clinical shifts.  Non-clinical volunteer shifts will not be accepted for pro bono CEU credit.

Yes. Dentists from out of state can treat patients at FLA-MOM, provided they complete the required out-of-state dentist registration information and are approved by a third-party screening authority. The deadline to register as an out-of-state dentist is February 7, 2025.

Volunteers with inactive Florida dental licenses or those who do not wish to apply for a temporary license can volunteer in other areas such as Central Supply, Sterilization, Dental Laboratory, Patient Education, etc. 

Please note: Out-of-state hygienists are NOT able to treat patients at FLA-MOM. Additionally, foreign-trained dentists can volunteer as a dental assistant but cannot directly treat patients as a dentist.

Licensed dentists and hygienists do not need to have their own malpractice insurance to practice at FLA-MOM. The FDA Foundation’s insurance through The Doctor’s Company will cover licensed dentists and licensed hygienists providing treatment at the clinic.

Dental teams are encouraged to volunteer together. If you wish to volunteer with a specific person, BOTH volunteers MUST register for the same shift and meet on-site to work together.

Dentists and assistants who do not have someone to practice with will be paired with another volunteer on-site.

All volunteers must check in at Volunteer Registration before entering the clinic or breakroom.

Volunteers will receive their name badge, T-shirt, and drawstring backpack.

In the weeks leading up to the event, volunteers will receive emails with information on parking, where to go, and what to bring.

FLA-MOM has many wonderful learning opportunities for students. We encourage all  students to volunteer in positions where they can interact with patients, such as Patient Education, exit interviews, escorting patients, or assisting in dental, hygiene, or sterilization departments.

Following the event, clinical volunteers will receive an email with their service hours to self-report hours. Non-clinical volunteers will receive proof of service hours as well.

Please do not bring weapons of ANY kind, illegal substances or anything of value.

Please leave your personal belongings at home or locked in your vehicle. We do not have a secured area for personal belongings and want to avoid tripping hazards on the clinic floor. Drawstring backpacks will be given to all volunteers for small items such as keys, wallet, cell phone. We ask that you wear your backpack throughout the event.

Please do not bring latex gloves or anything containing latex as some volunteers/patients may be allergic to latex.