Volume 2 - Issue 3 (May-Jul)

Review Article
How Mobile Services Started with
Dentistry?
In the early 1970s when dentistry was in its infancy,
introduction of public health dentistry initiated the
need for making dental students aware that there
are people who are beyond the reach of available
services. The objective was to expose students to work
in rural setup of country, so that they will be able to
work in rural areas after graduation. This was the act
of reaching out. With this exposure, students enjoyed
working for the needy people, saw more patients, felt
like real dentists and came in contact with other health
professionals.
Mobile Dental Units are Used in many
Ways and Many Places
• School programs (children)
• Retirement homes (elderly)
• Small communities (rural)
• Corporate (employees)
• Community agencies
• Organizations
• Families in need of oral health services.
The general concept is to drive the ‘clinic on wheels’
to residents of outlying communities where limited
resources and travel are obstacles for receiving timely
dental care. 3
Mobile Dental Clinic is Involved in the
Following Activities 4
Community Programs
• Training of dental students in community dental
services
• Community awareness and oral health promotion
Dental Services
• Dental check-up and treatment
Research
• Oral health surveys
• Screening of oral diseases
Mobile Dental Clinic 5,6
Advantages
• Moderate start up costs
• It addresses the problem of transportation to the
clinics
• It decreases missed appointments when run in
conjunction with schools
• Services can be made available at multiple sites
• Services are made available to the needy
population
• Excellent patient attendance
• Treat child without parent
• Transportation issues eliminated
Disadvantages
• High maintenance costs
• Difficult to access and store patient records
• Provides limited services and follow-up may be
difficult
• Requires permission for site use
• High administrative needs
• High productivity difficult
• Location of appropriate parking
• Patient record access/storage
• Computer and phone access difficult
• Multiple weather related problems
Factors to be Considered to Pursue a
Mobile Unit
Purchasing a mobile unit to deliver healthcare services
can be an expensive undertaking for anyone interested
in pursuing this option. Yet, little information is found
in the literature on planning or designing such vehicles.
A set of guidelines could help administrators to make
better decisions regarding this approach for delivering
healthcare. 7
The process of deciding to pursue a van purchase is
complicated, and administrators may best be served by
obtaining experienced consultants to help them fully
comprehend the issues involved. After the decision to
purchase a mobile unit is made, it is necessary to focus
on van requirements and design. 8
The mobile dental clinic should be equipped with two
dental chairs with all attachments and seating space for
15-20 people. 9
• Equipments to be fitted inside the clinic. 10,11
• Dental chair-Hydraulically operated dental chair
with water connection, spittoon and tumbler.
• Air ventury suction with flow control valve, auto
drain and auto flush system.
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Indian Journal of Multidisciplinary Dentistry, Vol. 2, Issue 3, May-July 2012