Mobile dental vans: planning considerations and productivity

Many children, especially those from lower socio-economic families, have limited access to dental care, transportation problems and poor appointment attendance. Mobile dental clinics have been implemented in many communities to address these issues.

Structured surveys were sent to the three mobile programs in Connecticut to collect information on the age of the program, issues encountered in planning and implementation, and ongoing costs and productivity.

Each mobile clinic had two operatories and operated 140-200 days per year. Programs provided 2921-3417 diagnostic and preventive procedures and 359-721 treatment procedures per year for an average daily production of 18-24 procedures. All programs required external funding to remain financially solvent.

Implementation and management of these programs is complicated. However, they provide an innovative solution to bringing dental care to underserved children and when operated in conjunction with schools can eliminate transportation problems and missed appointments.