A healthy smile can open doors, boost confidence, and improve overall well-being. Yet for many individuals and families, quality dental care remains out of reach. That's where Mercy Dental Missions comes in.
Since 2010, the Madison-based nonprofit has worked to remove barriers to oral healthcare by providing affordable, compassionate dental services to uninsured, underinsured, and low-to-moderate-income patients. Through its clinics, scholarship programs, educational outreach, and mission work, Mercy Dental Missions helps children, adults, individuals with disabilities, and families receive the care they need to thrive.
To learn more about the organization's journey, we connected with Executive Director Krysta Wetzel. Her history with Mercy Dental Missions spans nearly the entire life of the organization.
Expanding Access to Healthy Smiles
Wetzel first joined in 2010 as a volunteer when the nonprofit was known as Affordable Dental Care. Over the years, she has served in a variety of leadership roles as the organization continued to grow. She led the organization as Executive Director from 2017 to 2021 before returning to the position in 2025, the same year the nonprofit rebranded as Mercy Dental Missions. The new name better reflects the organization's growing impact both in Wisconsin and around the world.
Over the past 15 years, Wetzel has witnessed remarkable growth. What began primarily as an effort to provide affordable dental care to underserved individuals in Wisconsin has evolved into a comprehensive organization serving patients both locally and globally. Despite that growth, its mission remains unchanged: helping more people receive the dental care they need.
"Here in Wisconsin, we have broadened our reduced-cost dental services for uninsured and underinsured patients while significantly expanding our free community programs throughout the year," Wetzel said. "We continue to work toward removing barriers to care for individuals and families who might otherwise go without essential dental treatment."
Care that Goes Beyond the Clinic
Mercy Dental Missions offers several programs that work together to improve oral health and expand access to care. These include its Reduced-Cost Care Program, which provides affordable treatment to uninsured and underinsured patients; the Agape Scholarship Program, which offers additional financial assistance for individuals facing significant hardship; the annual Day of Mercy event, which provides free dental care for those in need; international mission programs that deliver care and education abroad; and community outreach initiatives that help children and families build healthy oral hygiene habits.
Among these initiatives, the Agape Scholarship Program holds a special place in the hearts of many team members. The program allows staff to connect with patients on a personal level, learn their stories, and provide support during some of life's most challenging moments. For Wetzel, it serves as a reminder that the organization's impact extends far beyond dentistry alone.
"Through this program, we've met individuals facing challenges such as devastating home fires, the loss of a child, life-altering medical diagnoses, experiences of human trafficking, and many other hardships," she said. "Being able to offer additional financial assistance—or sometimes free care—during those moments reminds us that our work is about much more than dentistry. It's about restoring hope, dignity, and compassion when people need it most."
From Wisconsin to the World
One of the most exciting developments for Mercy Dental Missions has been the growth of its international outreach efforts. Over the past two years, team members have provided dental care and oral health education in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and most recently Peru, helping bring much-needed services to communities with limited access to care.
Even as its global reach expands, Mercy Dental Missions remains deeply committed to serving patients here in Wisconsin. With demand for affordable dental care continuing to grow, the organization relies on the support of volunteers, healthcare professionals, businesses, and community partners to extend its reach and help more people.
Wetzel says she is proud of the organization's commitment to continual growth and service. Under the leadership of Board President Dr. Dan Tataje, Mercy Dental Missions continues to identify new opportunities to strengthen its impact both locally and internationally.
The Heart of the Mission
One of the biggest lessons Mercy Dental Missions has learned is that quality dental care transforms far more than a person's smile.
Time and again, team members have seen how relieving pain, restoring oral health, and helping someone smile with confidence can improve overall well-being, strengthen relationships, and create new opportunities. For many patients, receiving care means gaining a renewed sense of dignity and hope.
That impact is what continues to drive the organization forward. Whether serving patients in Wisconsin or communities abroad, Mercy Dental Missions remains committed to helping those who need it most. Supported by dedicated staff, volunteers, board members, and community partners, the organization continues to turn compassion into action and make a meaningful difference in thousands of lives each year.
Looking Ahead
What began as a local dental charity has grown into an organization with statewide and global reach, all while remaining committed to improving lives through compassionate, affordable dental care.
That commitment was on full display during Mercy Dental Missions' annual SmileAthon on July 11. More than 112 participants came together to support the organization's mission, helping raise $45,105 toward its $50,000 fundraising goal.
While the event has concluded, the impact continues. Additional donations will help fund reduced-cost dental services, scholarship assistance, educational outreach, community care initiatives, and global mission efforts that bring life-changing oral healthcare to individuals and families who need it most.
Beyond financial support, Mercy Dental Missions also welcomes volunteers throughout the year, including dental professionals interested in participating in clinic days, Day of Mercy events, and international mission trips.
As Mercy Dental Missions looks to the future, Wetzel hopes the organization will continue expanding its reach while staying true to the values that have guided it from the beginning. That means serving more patients across Wisconsin, strengthening support programs for individuals facing financial hardship, and bringing compassionate dental care to underserved communities around the world.
For those looking to make a difference, supporting Mercy Dental Missions is an opportunity to help create healthier smiles, stronger communities, and brighter futures—one patient at a time.
To learn more or help Mercy Dental Missions reach its SmileAthon fundraising goal, visit: https://www.mercydentalmissions.org/
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