Conway, Arkansas – A long-running effort to bring free dental care to Arkansans once again drew large crowds to Conway this week, as the Arkansas Mission of Mercy returned to the Conway Expo Center with its signature pop-up clinic.
The event, which has been serving residents across the state for more than two decades, opened its doors early Friday morning at around 3:30 a.m. Even before sunrise, the line outside the Expo Center stretched across the grounds. More than 800 people showed up, with some arriving the night before and even camping in the parking lot just to make sure they would be seen.
For many attendees, the wait was worth it. The clinic provides free dental services to people who might otherwise go without care, offering a rare opportunity for treatment in a setting designed to move quickly and serve as many patients as possible.
Inside the operation, dozens of volunteers and dental professionals worked side by side, turning the Expo Center into a temporary but fully functioning clinic. Chairs filled rapidly, and patients moved through different stations for cleanings, extractions, and other basic dental procedures.
Terry Fiddler, director of the Arkansas Mission of Mercy, said the turnout is something they have come to expect, but it still highlights a much deeper issue in the state.
“I’m always excited about this,” Fiddler said. “We always expect to see a lot of patients, and that’s why we bring in people from all over the county to help.”
His comments reflect both the scale of need and the coordinated effort required to meet it. Volunteers travel from across Arkansas and beyond to make the event possible, working long hours over the course of the weekend.
The clinic is scheduled to remain open through Saturday evening, giving organizers a limited window to serve as many people as possible. With demand so high, Fiddler is urging those planning to attend to arrive early.
He noted that anyone hoping to receive care should be at the Conway Expo Center by 2 a.m., a reminder of just how quickly spots fill up once the doors open.
One of the most notable aspects of the Arkansas Mission of Mercy model is its accessibility. No identification is required, and patients do not need insurance or proof of income. The only requirement is basic medical history information, allowing the process to remain as simple as possible for those in need.
For many families and individuals, that simplicity can make a significant difference. Dental care is often one of the most expensive and delayed forms of healthcare, and events like this provide relief for people dealing with pain, infection, or long-ignored dental issues.
As the weekend continues, organizers expect the steady flow of patients to continue, with volunteers working tirelessly to keep up. While the setting is temporary, the impact, for many who walk through the doors, is immediate and lasting.
The Arkansas Mission of Mercy may only be in Conway for a short time, but for hundreds of residents, it offers something they have been waiting for much longer: a chance to finally receive care without the burden of cost standing in the way.
