![]() Of these patients, the foundation has found that 40% have untreated cavities, and more than 700 students have had serious dental conditions including infections and abscesses. Mary’s Foundation has been providing the community with makeshift, “pop-up” dental clinics since 2011, and in that time, it has seen 10,000 students. It will be used to facilitate both emergency and preventative appointments for Milwaukee area students with limited access to dental services. The new medical vehicle, also manufactured by LDV, is outfitted with 2 patient areas, a sterilization area, and a waiting room. Mary’s Foundation based out of Milwaukee recently partnered with Ascension Seton to launch a new mobile dental clinic that will be used as part of the partners’ school-based health program, Smart Smiles. NCH worked with LDV to develop its new walk-in style van complete with a pair of private, fully operational exam rooms and a sterilization area. The NCH has found that 26% of the population in its service area had not visited a dentist in the past year and 24% lack dental insurance needed to fund proper dental treatment.Īs the needs for easy access to dental services increase, NCH decided to upgrade its original cab chassis-style mobile unit to something that was easier and more comfortable for its patients. This fiscal year, the NCH Mobile Dental Clinic facilitated more than 2,400 appointments, providing each patient with a full exam and set of X-rays. ![]() Since 2003, Illinois-based Northwest Community Healthcare ( NCH) has focused on providing a dental home and preventative services to local community members who lack access to affordable dental care. Reliable specialty vehicle manufacturers like Wisconsin-based LDV work to meet the increasing demand for accessible health and dental care as needs increase and the desire for mobile dental vehicles continues to grow. Mobile dental clinics are not a new concept and have been helping people without access to treatment for the past few decades. Many hospitals and dental clinics seek ways to bring their services to patients in need too, including preventative and emergency dental care. ![]() Mobile clinics provide access to portable technology and equipment for these areas and patients. For many, this includes improving access to preventative and emergency care to help patients in low-income or underserved areas avoid costly oral diseases that result in tooth extraction, root canals, and other painful operations. Healthcare systems, programs, and foundations as well as other nonprofit organizations have increased their focus on community involvement over the years. In fact, 19% of adults reported that they cannot find a convenient dental location or appointment time. Others do not make regular dental appointments because they don’t have a dentist near their home. Specifically, 59% of adults said they forgo dental care due to cost, either because they are without insurance or are simply unable to afford the expense. However, the ADA’s research has also shown that the most substantial factors affecting access to dental care are income, insurance status, and geography. The ADA further names several factors that directly affect an individual’s access to quality dental care, including age, level of education, and language barriers. The ADA also says that 18% of children age 5 to 18 years have untreated cavities or are affected by tooth decay. Not only are the country’s adults living without proper dental care, but a high number of children are too. Additionally, the ADA has noted that 26.5% of adults age 19 to 64 years, and 16.7% age 65 years and older, live with untreated tooth decay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that 47.2% of adults over the age of 30 years suffer from untreated gum disease. Gum disease and dental carries are the most common problems in oral health among the US population.
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