FAQs - Dentists

Volunteer registration has not opened for the 2024 Florida Mission of Mercy.

Please click the orange pre-registration button below to complete the pre-registration form.  Your completed pre-registration form will give you priority to register for the 2014 FLA-MOM before registration is open to the public.







We will need many dental, medical and community volunteers to help make FLA-MOM
successful for those searching for dental care.

Please revisit this page to find out about the 2024 FLA-MOM room block discount.  In the meantime, a map of Lakeland hotels is below for you to view.

• instruments
• handpieces (high and low speed)*
• gloves
• masks
• disposable prophy angles
• prophy paste
• sealants
• fluoride varnish
• gauze (2x2, 4x4)
• dental floss
• liquid hand sanitizer
• patient bibs, bib holders
• disinfecting wipes/surface disinfectant
• sterilizer pouches
• syringes and needles
• Q-tips and topical anesthetic
• anesthetics
• cotton rolls
• dry angles
• disposable instrument trays
• articulating paper
• safety glasses
• toothbrushes
• toothpaste
• saliva ejectors and HVE tips
• chair covers
• burs
• amalgam and bases
• composite
• etch/bond
• matrix bands and wedges
• amalgamator
• curing lights
• hand piece lubrication
• stainless steel crowns
• cement
• endo supplies
• pens/markers
• hand mirrors

*Handpieces will be available, but they may be different from what you are accustomed to.

Dentists may bring any special equipment needed, such as headlights or magnifying eyewear.

Other suggested items include:
Handpieces - some will be available, but you may prefer to bring your own.
Burs - only if you have a favorite!
Curing Lights - extra curing lights limit the chances of cross-contamination when sharing.

Be sure to properly label all your equipment with your name.

All clinical volunteers must be licensed by the state of Florida or complete an out-of-state registration. License numbers are required on the volunteer registration form and will be verified before the event. Anyone directly involved with patient care is required to have a current hepatitis vaccination.

Please note: Out-of-state dentists must register by a designated deadline in order to allow time for your credentials to be reviewed. After completing the initial registration, a link will be emailed in order to provide additional information and upload documentation.

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 April 19, 2024.

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. 

The Florida Board of Dentistry indicates that dentist volunteers at FLA-MOM have a clear and active license.  As a retired dentist, the active dental license has expired and therefore we ask that you volunteer in a non-clinical capacity.

Volunteers with inactive Florida dental licenses can volunteer in other areas such as Central Supply, Sterilization, Dental Laboratory, Patient Education, etc. 

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

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.

Dental teams are encouraged to volunteer together — this is a great opportunity for team building! If you wish to volunteer with a specific person, please sign up 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. 

Dental instruments will be provided. You are welcome to bring your favorites, but please ensure that all personal items are clearly labeled with your name. Ultrasonic scalers will be available for hygienists.

No, nitrous oxide will not be available.  We only use local anesthetic for procedures requiring numbing at the FLA-MOM clinic.

Clinicians should plan to bring their own eye protection. Headlamps and extra batteries are recommended to increase visibility.

A disposable gown, masks, and gloves will be provided on-site. Instruments and supplies also will be provided. A limited number of curing lights will be available, so you may want to consider bringing your own.

Please feel free to bring your own dental instruments if you like, but please ensure that all personal items are clearly labeled with your name. The FDA Foundation is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged equipment. Your equipment should be properly sterilized, in good working order, safe, effective and only used for its intended purpose.

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.

One chairside stool will be provided for each treatment chair for the dentist or hygienist to use during treatment.

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 tpro 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.