First-ever free dental clinic at Avon VFD welcomes more than 60 patients; Clinic will return in the fall
Last weekend, the Avon Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) was transformed into a temporary dentist’s office and health screening clinic, with an inaugural visit from a team of medical professionals from the nonprofit organization Baptists on Mission.
The 30 volunteers came to Hatteras Island from all across the state, and the team included dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, an optometrist, nurses, a nutritionist, a paramedic, bus drivers, and organizers to tie all of the many moving parts together.
Working out of two large busses stationed in the Avon VFD parking lot, (which looked like typical RVs on the outside, and modern doctors’ offices on the inside), the community-wide initiative was aimed at providing free medical and dental care to the residents of Hatteras Island.
Though it took months to piece together the scheduling for the dental and health screening clinics, this massive undertaking came together with surprisingly little effort, thanks to word-of-mouth support and the community’s inherent devotion to the adage “it takes a village.”
This is not the first time that Baptists on Mission has paid a much-needed visit to the Outer Banks, and arguably, the planning for their recent Avon visit began way back in 2019.
“During Hurricane Dorian, our North Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief team came to Ocracoke, and fed people and did some construction and other things, and that’s how we found out, partly, about the needs on Ocracoke,” said Krissy Watson, Dental Ministry Coordinator for Baptists on Mission. “But also, one of my dental bus driver’s sons goes duck hunting there, and he came back from a trip and said, ‘There is no dentist on the island!’”
The mobile dental bus is just one of many services offered by Baptists on Mission, but it’s also one of their most in-demand outreach programs.
According to the organization’s summary of the dental bus program, Baptists on Mission offers the use of mobile dental units to Baptist churches, other Christian denominations, and service organizations within North Carolina that wish to reach out to people in need.
The dental bus has been making regular visits to Ocracoke Island for the past few years, serving dozens of local patients (for free) who would otherwise have to take a ferry – and a full day off of work – to visit the nearest dentist’s office.
“When we first went to Ocracoke, there were a lot of treatment needs,” said Watson. “And now, we’re at the point where we’re only going once a year, because it’s only preventive needs. We’re doing more cleaning and not as much treatment, because we’ve got the residents to the point where their mouths are a lot healthier.”
KJ Ellington has been on Hatteras Island since 2022, and he is the Pastor of One Church in Avon, as well as a volunteer and resident chaplain of the Avon VFD. He first connected with Baptists on Mission in Ocracoke, when the dental bus started making its initial visits.
“These clinics are connected to a local church, and since Ocracoke doesn’t have a Baptist church, I would go over and help,” said Ellington. “And as we got talking, I said I wanted to bring it here [on Hatteras Island], because there is a big need here, too.”
The idea of having a dental and healthcare screening clinic started taking shape in March 2024, and a flood of donations and volunteers followed, (particularly from sponsor First Flight Rotary), leading to a more concrete plan that included meals, housing, and required amenities for the 30-member Baptists on Mission team and their two big busses.
“It definitely takes more prayer than effort,” said Ellington. “There are a lot of moving parts that have to come together – getting [dentists and specialists] who are able to take off from their practice and volunteer, the dates the truck is available, the dates the fire station is available, where we can find housing… all of that had to work.”
Along with home rentals, the Avon VFD also opened its doors to the volunteers. “The fire department is allowing about 10 people to stay at the station, and we have some people staying with our church members too,” said Ellington. “The Avon Fire Department has been a huge help, and [Chief Frank Hopkins] has done everything we’ve asked and more to make this happen.”
The dental bus makes roughly 126 visits throughout North Carolina every year, from the western edges of the state to the Outer Banks, and mainly in rural areas where dental care is scarce, or may simply be too expensive for area residents.
“This bus was in the mountains last Friday and Saturday, in North Wilkesboro, and there was four inches of snow,” said Watson. “So, we’re used to going all over the state, in all kinds of conditions, where we are needed the most.”
If there was any uncertainty whether the dental bus would be an asset on Hatteras Island, it was quickly squashed soon after the announcement of the clinic’s January 17-18 availability. Within days of the Avon VFD sharing the event on Facebook, all appointment slots were filled, and more folks stopped by for the free health clinic screenings, which didn’t require advanced notice – just a willingness to get on board and get checked out.
An estimated 60 dental clinic patients and 20 health care screening patients were welcomed over the two-day event. Folks would check in at the Avon Fire Station, and then be directed to one of two busses, or to a dentist chair that was stationed in the fire house.
Though the clinic is fully movable, it’s hard to tell the difference between the bus-based facilities and a traditional brick-and-mortar medical office. The dental bus has two treatment rooms and enough equipment and expertise to do X-rays, fillings, extractions, and cleanings.
“We can’t perform, say, root canals, but we can provide basic services that can definitely help change someone’s health,” said Watson. “On average, we [can do] about $38,000 worth of dentistry in two days.”
The health screening bus is also set up into varying medical stations where specialists conduct cholesterol screenings, eye screenings, depression screenings, blood work, and more in order to identify potential issues before they become life-threatening problems.
On Friday and Saturday, islanders floated in and out of both busses and the Avon Fire Station, meeting with members of Baptists on Mission, as well as local volunteers who made meals, provided coffee, and pitched in wherever help was needed.
“Just like us going to Ocracoke Island, coming here to Avon helps us understand the locals and how they live,” said Watson. “The locals give so much of themselves, and things aren’t always done for them, and in the off-season, things are a little different and a little harder.”
For many residents, it was the first time they had been to a dentist in a very long time. One patient in particular arrived with a toothache that had lingered for 10 years, and when she left the fire station, the decade-long pain was gone.
“I see people sacrificing and giving so much to make a living when the tourists are here, and to make the island a great place to visit, and we just wanted to be able to give back and help the folks who don’t ask for help,” said Ellington. “This is a great way to do exactly that.”
The two-day event was a resounding success according to all parties involved, and the dental bus will return to Avon again soon, most likely in the fall of 2025.
Now that the Baptists on Mission team have had their initial Avon visit, they can return to treat their current roster of patients – and welcome new patients – just as they have on Ocracoke Island since 2019’s Hurricane Dorian.
The foundation has been laid for decades of dental care and healthcare in the future, and the Avon VFD, Pastor Ellington, and the many local volunteers and businesses who pitched in for the Jan 17-18 event will be waiting to make the Baptists on Mission team feel at home.
“When KJ [Ellington] came to me and said, ‘this is what we’d like to do,’ I said ‘done’ with no hesitation,” said Avon VFD Chief Frank Hopkins. “Our goal is to do more for the community, and to bring the community and the fire department closer together.”
“As long as I’m here, and I can get them to keep coming, we’ll keep doing this,” said Ellington. “This is a wonderful and essential way that we can serve our community.”
For more information, and how you can help
- For more information on Baptists on Mission and its many programs, and to make a donation, click here.
- The 18-member Avon VFD, (as well as all fire stations on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands), rely on volunteers to keep going strong, and to keep serving the local community. For more information on the Avon VFD, including upcoming events, visit their Facebook page.