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Hundreds receive free dental, eye and ear care in Pittsburgh | TribLIVE.com
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Hundreds receive free dental, eye and ear care in Pittsburgh

Shane Dunlap
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Volunteers from the dental disciplines work on patients at the Mission of Mercy free dental, hearing and vision clinic on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Dental hygienist Kristin Lapiska, of Beaver, works on a filling for Sheena Duckett, of East Liberty, during the sixth annual Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh free dental, hearing and vision clinic on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. “Look at how many people are showing up for this,” said Duckett, gesturing around the convention center packed with patients registered for free care. “The country needs a national health care system. First we are people — and that is what this is all about.”
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Volunteers from the dental disciplines work on patients at the Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh free dental, hearing and vision clinic on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Volunteers serve the needs of hundreds of dental patients at the Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh free dental, hearing and vision clinic on Saturday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Volunteers from left, Elizabeth Zamagias, of Pittsburgh, Alexandria Auerbeck, a University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine student, and volunteer Carole Good, a dental hygienist, sanitize dental instruments Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 during the sixth annual Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh free dental, hearing and vision clinic at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
A young boy holds his father’s hand as patients receive dental care at the Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh free dental, hearing and vision clinic on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Antwan Edwell, of Pittsburgh, tries on a new pair of free eyeglasses as he registered for eye care at the sixth annual Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh free dental, hearing and vision clinic on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Dr. Dan Pituch, chief oral and maxillofacial surgery at UMPC Mercy and Shadyside, at left, and Dr. Rick Celko, chief dental officer at UPMC, work on extractions for a patient during the Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh free dental, hearing and vision clinic on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
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Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
A string quartet from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra volunteered to perform in the waiting room at the free hearing, dental and vision clinic hosted by Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

More than 1,500 people received free dental, eye and ear care Friday and Saturday at the David L. Convention Center.

More than 1,400 volunteers from across the region took part to care for patients including dentists, eye and ear clinicians and many others. The all-day event event was open to adults and children ages 2 and up.

The event was presented by the Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh.

Dental services included dental exams, cleanings, minor restorative fillings, tooth extractions, root canal treatments on select teeth, oral hygiene instruction and a limited number of temporary partial dental appliances.

The clinic also offered eye exams and eyeglass fittings, including free eyeglasses; and hearing care, including fittings for free hearing aids.

Shane Dunlap is a TribLive photographer covering Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. He grew up in the Ohio Valley near Pittsburgh and has worked for newspapers as far away as Fayetteville, N.C., where he covered the U.S. Army at Fort Liberty. He can be reached at sdunlap@triblive.com.

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