Free Dental Clinic Provides Care for Conn. Residents

(NECN/WVIT: Audrey Washington, Bridgeport, Conn.) - A free dental clinic was held in Bridgeport, Conn. Despite the rain, people in need of dental care started lining up early.

After traveling from Westchester, New York to Bridgeport, Conn. and standing outside of the Webster Bank Arena for more than 19 hours, Beth Carter's wait was finally over.

"I came yesterday morning at 10:30 and I wasn't planning on being first, but I definitely wanted to be one of the ones to get service today," said clinic patron Beth Carter.

In fact, Carter was the very first patient in line at the Connecticut Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic and not too far behind her was Henry Garcia.

"I brought my bag and slept," said Garcia.

He too waited overnight to get some much needed dental attention.

"I'm having a root canal on number 12 up here that I've been trying to have for two or three years so this is a wonderful opportunity," said Garcia.

At the free dental clinic everyone is served, from adults to young children, no one is turned away.

"Basically anyone who shows up, were going to take care of you. [If] you come down with a problem, were going to fix that problem," said Dr. Bruce Tandy.

From a simple cleaning to something much more extensive, all is done for free.

The expensive pro bono dental work is welcome.

"To do a root canal, everywhere I went I had to have the money upfront and so it was hard to get $1,200 to $1,300 together," said Garcia.

"I've been in need of dental work for quite some time and it just has not been affordable or available to me," said Carter.

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