Greensboro, NC -- Many people dread a trip to the dentist, but Friday hundreds of people lined up for hours to have a chance to sit in a dentist's chair.

The free dental clinic is the only way many of them can get the care they need.

About 400 people got into the free clinic Friday, while some were turned away after waiting hours. Another is scheduled for Saturday.

Organizers said the event is largest free dental clinic in Guilford County history.

"It took a couple of hours to get in," said Dezi Arnez, who received a free cleaning.

"At one point I had a job, I was able to have insurance, but as of now, I don't have any insurance now," he said.

The need is approaching epidemic proportions because of job losses, they said.

According to the State Institute of Medicine, 1.3 million people do not have health insurance in North Carolina.

Leon McNair is one of them. After four emergency room visits and three trips to urgent care, McNair had had enough.

"I was basically about to get the players and go to work and pull it myself," he said.

That was an option he considered until he heard about the clinic sponsored by North Carolina Missions of Mercy at First Presbyterian Church.

"If it wasn't for them, there would be a lot of people out here with hurt mouths," McNair said.

"(They) can't afford insurance, they maybe don't qualify for Medicaid. They're just kind of in that middle ground," said Bill Blaylock, director of Missions of Mercy.

Tracy Slama is disabled and unemployed with an aching wisdom tooth. He's not seen a dentist in about five years.

"It helps a lot knowing that there's people out there that care for people who are unfortunate," he said.

"This is not going to be a permanent solution, but it just makes a small dent and brings focus and attention to the problem that we do have," said Chuck Norman, a Greensboro dentist who help organize the event.

"They done shot me up with numbing agent," said McNair, who had two teeth extracted.

"She said that's the biggest tooth she's ever seen," he said of one of the volunteers who helped him.

After two sleepless nights, two weeks out of work, he looked forward to walking out of the clinic pain-free.

"I'm in here dancing and everything in the chair. I'm so grateful for this place right here," he said.

Missions of Mercy operates 12 clinics around the state a year. A Burlington dentist started the organization six years ago.

The clinic is for people 18 years and older. They can't earn more than 200 percent of the national poverty level.

Registration for Saturday's clinic begins at 6 a.m. and the clinic runs through 3 p.m.

Blaylock said he recommends getting there early. He said some people would arrive at 3 a.m.

The clinic will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 617 North Elm Street in Greensboro.