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DURHAM – Dentists from across the state joined hundreds of volunteers for the Mission of Mercy clinic, sponsored by the North Carolina Dental Society, Friday in Durham.

The Mission of Mercy clinic is the largest free dental clinic in North Carolina. Friday, the line started overnight and wrapped around the building.

Burlington resident Joann Volz came early enough to get inside the Durham National Guard Armory early. She said it's been an agonizing couple of months with a toothache.

"It's very painful. I'm going to have one tooth extracted and two filled,” Volz said.

The North Carolina Dental Society holds clinics around the state, but the one in Durham treats the most patients. A team of volunteers and dentists work to help more than 1,000 patients over two days.

Officials with the society say the state has one of the lowest dentist-per-capita ratios in the country. They say that's why clinics like the one in Durham are so important.

"It's really tough for them to get care and good advice and good hygiene. Good practices that would help them,” said Dr. Bob Plage, with the N.C. Dental Society.

Dentists say they've seen the need grow in the down economy as employers cut health benefits and workers lose jobs.

"We have health insurance, but no, it doesn't cover dental at all,” Volz said.

The crowd grew so large they had to cut off patients early Friday morning, but doctors say they're treating everyone they can.

"We make a big dent in the bad teeth in this town in two days,” Plage said.

In 2008, the General Assembly allotted money to expand the UNC Chapel Hill Dental School and build a new school at East Carolina. The dental school at ECU is set to open in fall 2011.

The North Carolina Dental Society hopes graduating more dentists will improve oral health in the state.

Registration starts at 6 a.m. and goes through 5 p.m. Saturday. Dentists will see more patients on a first-come, first-served basis.