Thousands pack uptown for free dental clinic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — About 2,000 people are at the Charlotte Convention Center in uptown, waiting to get free dental care Friday morning.
 
Many have been waiting hours to get help.
 
Organizers started registering them at midnight and treatment will continue until Saturday at 12 p.m.
 
The sponsoring organization, North Carolina Missions of Mercy, hopes to treat 2,500 people over the span of 36 hours providing emergency root canals, tooth extractions and even preventive cleanings.
 
A limited number of partial dentures will also be provided.
 
It's the largest clinic of its kind in the state.
 
 They have been waiting for hours to get help, but one man found out his wait since Wednesday was for nothing.
 
"A lot of people don't get to go see the dentist. It's a luxury so having something like this where dentists from all over have volunteered their time to help out is just, I really appreciate it myself I know," said patient Leighann Van Sweden.

WSOC