A Message from 2024 - 2025 CFDDA President

Dr. Joseph Richardson

 Central Dentists Give More

I recently wrote a narrative about the obligation of dentists to stay active in organizations that support and promote dentistry as an industry. Now, I want to expand on that narrative and suggest that not only do we have an imperative to protect our profession, we have a moral obligation to ensure our profession continues to protect the best interests of the people we serve. Recently, a prominent political figure and our surgeon general both spoke on the misguided “dangers” of community water fluoridation. It is not the purpose of this commentary to refute and verbally roll my eyes at this notion; rather, I would like to take the opportunity to point out that dentists are truly special. It must be difficult for our opposition to explain why we as a profession fight for health policies that are financially outside our own best interests. Our brains function differently. We are special because at the end of the day … we put the needs of our patients ahead of our own. 

Remember your dental school interview and you were asked to describe why you wanted to be a dentist? I had the opportunity to be part of a dental school’s admissions committee, and I can tell you with utmost confidence that not a single person responded with an overwhelming, lifelong desire to work in the oral cavity. Most of us have an innate desire to utilize our own two hands to help people. Despite the generalization, I have found this to be true year after year. There are obviously many ways to give back or contribute to society. Today I am going to talk about the Super Bowl of charitable dental opportunities — The Florida Mission of Mercy. 

The Florida Mission of Mercy (FLA-MOM) is the signature program sponsored by the Florida Dental Association Foundation and is the largest charitable dental clinic in Florida that serves between 1,500 and 2,000 patients in one weekend a year. The dentists in Florida work together to provide free care to any patient, with the goal of serving the underserved and uninsured in Florida. 

The 2025 event marks the TENTH event in the state and has provided over $17 million dollars in care and treated over 15,000 patients in the last decade. In addition to statistics above, the FLA-MOM partners with Florida Veterans Foundation and other statewide/ local organizations that prioritize treatment for veterans. I am proud as president of the Central District to bring the FLA-MOM event back to Central Florida. I have the honor of being the co-chair of this year’s Daytona Beach event with Dr. Bert Hughes. Dr. Hughes and I have combined almost 2 decades of experience organizing and participating with the Mission of Mercy since its inception. In addition, Central District dentists have donated their time, skill, and effort to help the program exceed year after year (despite the location in the State). We are STRONG as a component dental association and will continue to show patients that we give more than we take as a profession. 

You will be shocked to find out that this event does not fund itself! Yes, that’s right, we need your time and your skill, but we also need your money! The Florida Mission of Mercy needs our dentist to VOLUNTEER and DONATE to be successful. In November of 2024, the executive council of the Central District Dental Association proposed, voted and unanimously approved a resolution for the CFDDA to match any donations made to the FLA-MOM by Central District dentists up to $20,000! In the last decade, the Central District has been the most charitable of any of the other component organizations and continues to raise the bar for other components to fund this heartfelt event. 

It is an unbelievable honor to serve as president of this organization and I will continue to lead by example and encourage all my closest colleagues to participate in their profession in and out of the oral cavity. Together, we can address and conquer all the challenges that come our way and continue to set an example statewide and nationally. I thank you all for your time and willingness to read this far. I hope to see you all at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach on March 21st and 22nd. 

Sincerely,

 Joseph P. Richardson, D.M.D., M.S. President