Anatomy of MOM-n-PA 2018
By Dr. Bruce R. Terry, Editor Emeritus, Immediate Past President
This year the annual MOM-n-PA dental mission was held at the Santander Arena in Reading, on May 18 and 19. The planning begins one year before the event and requires the help of dozens of volunteer“ leads,” or captains, and local leaders to make this event successful.
As in other years, I arrived the night before set-up day so that I could hit the ground running at 7 a. m. Thursday morning. I met with Dr. Gary Davis, Chairperson for MOM-n-PA since it began in 2012 as a concept. We also met with Ben and Aaron from the American Dentist Cares Foundation who helped us set up, operate and break down all the borrowed dental equipment. As in other years, we reviewed the floor plan we developed months earlier with the event staff at the arena, but on set-up day there is always something. This time it was the tractor trailer that was delivered the day before and positioned at the loading dock. It was four inches too low and the doors could not swing open. We discussed the possibility of inflating the tires more or cutting off the hinges of the doors. In the end we used a pry bar to get the doors open and past the floor of the loading dock. Crisis no. 1 averted!
Next, all the equipment was unloaded onto the event floor while I marked with tape where everything would need to go. Floor plans were given to different departments and each was responsible for getting the tables up and supplies out. We had to dry fit 600 feet of PVC pipe, set up 175 tables and connect 108 dental units and dental chairs, lights and stools.
During unpacking one of the suction units was damaged, and we needed special PVC pipe and fittings. I called around to local plumbing suppliers, found what I needed and had it in one hour, thanks to the quick driving of Dr. John Reitz. Crisis No. 2 averted!
This year there was a miscommunication with our very helpful partners at Planmeca. They shipped and allowed us to use three digital panographic machines each year at no cost to us. This year the units arrived the day before, but there
16 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL