Mobile Dental Unit Research Articles

Dental nursing on a mobile dental unit

Dental nursing on a mobile dental unit

Bridging the Gap: Oral Health-care Delivery Plan in Tribal Belt of Western India

Abstract Background: India has launched many initiatives to achieve Universal Health Coverage, despite there exist gaps in oral health-care need and service delivery. Especially in tribal areas, due to the prevalence of risk factors as well as the lack of accessibility and affordability for health-care services, oral diseases remain unidentified and untreated. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the needs and design an implementation plan for sustainable and culturally acceptable oral health-care delivery in one of the tribal blocks of Mokhada in the state of Maharashtra, Western India. Methodology: The study included participants above 18 years of age and adopted a co-design approach. Data collection methods consisted of a short-form survey and focused group discussion. Convenient and purposive sampling methods were used to select participants for quantitative and qualitative data collection, respectively. Quantitative data analysis was performed using the STATA 16 tool, whereas thematic analysis was performed for the qualitative data. Need assessment led to the design of implementation by engaging multiple stakeholders. Results: A total of 2008 adults participated in the survey with a mean age being 37.7 years. 52.4% of participants were male. Out of 2008 screened, 83.2% were found to have at least one oral disease and a high prevalence of tobacco consumption (42%). Barriers of oral healthcare-seeking behaviour were addressed in the proposed model of care. Accordingly, a twice-a-week functional comprehensive oral care health-care model was integrated into the already existing health center of a community led development organization and portable mobile dental unit were planned with the support of multiple stakeholders. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the feasibility of delivering oral healthcare through integration into primary healthcare and multiple stakeholder engagement.

Compacted Care Beyond the Clinic: Designing and Implementing a Portable Dental Unit (PDU) for Remote and Mobile Services

For the sake of all those who need dental care in various places, this article presents the rationale for designing and implementing a portable dental unit and finding new and more modern ways to manufacture and evaluate it as well. This device gives priority to durability, portability of the device in different work environments, infection control, and safety. The basic components include, but are not limited to, the air pressure system, the water tank, the Arduino microcontroller to control and manage the pressure, the electrical valves and filters that are subject to international standards, the foot switch, and the device’s control panel. The handpiece assembly in this dental unit, which includes the electric motor handle, the triple syringe, the high-speed turbine, and the low-speed turbine, allows for a variety of dental treatments. The effectiveness of the dental unit was confirmed through its experiment by specialists at Al Noor University in May 2023. Dr. Al Qubais Al Assaf, who supervised the examination, confirmed the effectiveness of the unit in delivering water and compressed air, in addition to its successful design, the ease of carrying and transporting the device, and the ease of its installation, in addition to its durability and resistance to aging Infection and protective functions. Dr. Al-Assaf also spoke about the importance of the mobile dental unit to provide dental care in remote areas or in cases where individuals cannot reach scientific clinics.

Change in dental caries status on provision of high fluoridated tooth paste; A triple blind randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To investigate the change in dental caries status on provision of high fluoridated tooth paste after 24 months. Study Design: Triple Blind Randomized Clinical and Controlled. Setting: Private School of Gulshan Town, Karachi. Period: January 2018 to January 2020. Material & Methods: A cohort of regular school children aged 12-15 years studying in classes 6-9 were included. Through simple random sampling, 412 subjects were purposively allocated to Group A (n=202, intervention group) and Group B (n=210, control group). A pre-trial market survey was conducted to identify the fluoridated toothpastes available followed by the laboratory testing of fluoride concentration through Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Dental examination was performed by a single examiner on mobile dental units under sunlight in the school ground using sterilized dental mirror, probe and tweezers at baseline and then after 8, 16 and 24 months employing the World Health Organization recommended Decayed Missing Filled Teeth index. Results: The mean age of the recruited participants was 12.91±0.82 having 209 males and 203 females. The mean DMFT scores observed over 24 months were 1.25 in group A and 1.42 in group B. At baseline it was 1.10 ±1.50 and 1.11±1.43 which gradually increased to 1.32±1.57 and 1.59±1.96 in group A and B respectively at last follow-up examination. Conclusion: This trial has identified no significant change in the overall dental caries status; however, the mean decayed score in both the interventional groups decreased on provision of high fluoridated tooth paste.

Best practice models for dental care delivery for people experiencing homelessness.

People experiencing homelessness have been encountering significant barriers in accessing healthcare services, including dental care services. There are several definitions for homelessness: it includes people sleeping rough but also people living in temporary accommodation. These categories are dynamic and individuals often find themselves on a continuum oscillating between sleeping rough and living in temporary accommodation. Their health-seeking behaviours are shaped by their living arrangements; therefore, one single model of dental care service delivery might not capture the needs of all those experiencing homelessness within an area. The service models presented in this paper are based on primary care delivery, mobile dental units and community clinics. Each of these models presents advantages and disadvantages and consideration should be given to delivering these on a complementary basis to maximise access to dental care, regardless of where patients are on the continuum between sleeping rough and living in temporary accommodation.

The role of mobile dental units in providing care to vulnerable communities

The role of mobile dental units in providing care to vulnerable communities

Sixteen years on the road: a mobile dental unit for vulnerable communities in Bradford.

Introduction As a means of targeting vulnerable populations to offer care outside the traditional clinical setting, mobile clinics exist that permit clinical teams to travel into the community to provide dental care.Aims To highlight some of the inequalities faced by vulnerable populations, to discuss the benefits of a mobile dental unit (MDU) and how it may address some of these inequalities, and to reflect on some of the achievements of the Bradford MDU.Vulnerable populations Vulnerable communities may include the homeless population, those affected by substance misuse, those suffering with mental health problems, asylum seekers, or an amalgamation. Such groups are likely to have lower expectations of healthcare and may not seek help until oral disease is advanced, with a large proportion likely to have already lost their teeth.Bradford MDU The MDU owned by Bradford Community Dental Service is unique in both its longevity of service and populations it serves, and has been providing an outreach dental service to the vulnerable populations of Bradford for the last 16 years. Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic suspended services during the thick of lockdown, the Bradford MDU is slowly re-opening its services, so the care received by these vulnerable populations is no longer compromised.

Estudo comparativo da eficiência entre um consultório convencional fixo e uma ambulância odontológica em atividades extra-murais

This study reports an evaluation of a program performed by seniors students at the Faculdade de Odontologia de São José dos Campos (Brazil) during the development of clinical activities in Extra-Mural Programs. The analysis of efficiency (productivity, program-costs and time) and work environment conditions was carried out by comparison between two different types of dental units: a standart unit and a mobile dental unit. The data indicated that better efficiency and work environmental conditions were found in the standart unit.

Outcome evaluation of the Dental Health Outreach Mobile Experience (HOME) Coach Program.

The Ohio Department of Health identified dental care as the number one unmet health need for Ohio's children. The Dental Health Outreach Mobile Experience (HOME) Coach is a pediatric mobile dental unit that seeks to meet the dental needs of underserved children in the Columbus City Schools. The purpose was to conduct an outcome evaluation of the Dental HOME Coach Program and to compare the outcomes before (2010-2014) and after (2015-2019) the incorporation of the new Dental HOME Coach. Using a longitudinal outcome evaluation research design, the data were analyzed from 10 years of the Dental HOME Coach Program at the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Dentistry during the academic years ending in 2010-2019. A total of 1063 dental students provided dental care to 26469 children in the Columbus City Schools. The top 3 performed procedures were sealants, prophylaxis, and resin composite fillings. Despite significant increases in the number of dental students providing oral health care, there were significant decreases in the number of amalgam fillings and stainless-steel crowns from before to after the incorporation of the new Dental HOME Coach. The outcome evaluation revealed the Dental HOME Coach Program has been providing underserved children with oral health care that offers them a dental "home," giving dental students an array of hands-on learning experiences that include pediatric dentistry treatments performed under the supervision of OSU faculty members, and positively impacting the problems of access to oral health care for Ohio's families.

Low-cost mobile dental unit for oral care service delivery in third world countries: from concept to operation

In this paper, we design and implement two low-cost dental units in order to remedy the difficulties of its accessibility for healthcare services in hospitals and the difficulties encountered with the maintenance of medical equipment. In developing countries, income is low and a huge amount of people do not have access to basic dental healthcare partly due to the cost involved in the purchase and maintenance of imported dental units. In the present work, two varieties of dental units were designed and built using electronic, pneumatic and hydraulic circuits. The first one is a dental cabinet with an electronic command board and without a chair. The second is made of hydraulic and pneumatic systems as command with a foldable chair and a stand. The pneumatic and hydraulic systems enable the dentist to operate the instruments by hand and/or foot. The mechanical design of the two dental units was done in Inventor software. Both equipment types were installed in three healthcare centres in Cameroon and their initial social impact was investigated.

Development of a risk score to predict abnormal glycemic status among Thai dental patients

PurposeTo construct a risk score using both clinical and intra-oral variables and to determine a risk score to screen individuals according to their risk of hyperglycemia.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study was carried out among 690 Thai dental patients who visited the Special Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University and a mobile dental unit of His Majesty the King of Thailandss Dental Service Unit. Participants aged ≥25 years without a previous history of type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in the study. Participants diagnosed with severe anemia and polycythemia were excluded. Questionnaires were used to collect demographic data. Point-of-care HbA1c, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and periodontal status were analyzed.FindingsA total of 690 participants were included in the study. A risk scoring system including five variables was developed. It exhibited fair discrimination (area under the curve = 0.72, 95%CI 0.68–0.71). The risk score value of 9 was used as the cut-off point for increased risk of abnormal HbA1c. Subjects that had a total risk score of 9 or more had a high probability of having abnormal HbA1c and were identified for referral to physicians for further investigation and diagnosis.Originality/valueA risk score to predict hyperglycemia using a dental parameter was developed for convenient evaluation in dental clinics.

The Health Wagon Partners with the Virginia Department of Health to Provide COVID-19 Testing in Rural Southwest Virginia.

The Health Wagon has been providing care for the rural population of southwest Virginia for the past 40 years. The mission of the Health Wagon is to provide quality health care to the medically underserved people in the mountains of Appalachia. It has expanded to two stationary clinics, three mobile units, and a mobile dental unit, logging over 19,000 patients encounters in the past year.

Effectiveness of 0.2% chlorhex plus and 0.1% turmix as preprocedural mouthrinses on aerosol contamination produced by ultrasonic scalers: An interventional study

Objective: Dental handpieces, ultrasonic scalers, air polishers, air abrasion units produce the most visible aerosols. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Chlohex Plus and Turmix as preprocedural mouthrinses on aerosol contamination produced by ultrasonic scaler inside the Mobile Dental Unit. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 patients were included in this study, they were randomly assigned into two groups and were subjected to scaling before and after rinsing with 0.2% CHX,0.1% turmix. Blood agar plates were used to collect the gravitometric settling of aerosols and were sent for culture. Results: The mean CFU/mL of the anaerobic bacteria from the aerosol generated after pre-rinse with TRX was found to be less than 50% of the mean effective pre-rinse CHX threshold. The TRX pre-rinse was found to be more effective than the CHX pre-rinse. Bacteriodes spp. and the Peptostreptococcus spp. were the most common anaerobic pathogen isolated from the aerosol tested which is strongly suggestive of aerosol were directive from patient sample only. Conclusion: Hence the consideration of routine use of CHX and turmix mouthwash as prior to all dental procedures results in the reduction in number of oral bacteria available for possible induction of bacteremia or dissemination to the attending dentist and other personnel.

Feasibility of integrating a dental hygienist into an inpatient medical team for patients with diabetes mellitus.

Patients who are hospitalized face a high risk of poor oral health and experience a decline in oral hygiene over the course of hospitalization. Due to the documented links between diabetes and periodontal disease as well as the prevalence of diabetes in the hospitalized population, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were chosen as the population of interest for a pilot program of dental hygienist-led care provision in the hospital. Inclusion criteria were established by agreement of a dentist and physician. Nursing and medical staff were provided with multiple opportunities to learn about the dental hygienist's role throughout the pilot. The dental hygienist utilized a fully mobile dental unit and bedside suction unit and followed all standard infection control procedures. This intervention identified a number of suboptimal oral health practices among patients and was perceived positively by patients and providers. No adverse events occurred.

The acceptability of fluoride varnish and fissure sealant treatments in children aged 6-9 delivered in a school setting.

To assess the acceptability of fluoride varnish and fissure sealant treatments for children. To investigate the acceptability of delivering this treatment in a school setting for children, parents, clinicians and school staff. Semi-structured interviews (with children, parents, clinicians and school staff) and a questionnaire (for school staff) as part of a two-arm, randomised clinical trial. Children aged 6-9, their parents, clinical staff and school staff. Fluoride varnish or fissure sealant was delivered to children from the ages of 6 to 9 years for 36 months, by a community dental service in a school setting. Fluoride varnish was re-applied every 6 months; fissure sealant was applied once to first permanent molars and re-applied as required. Interviews with children a few days after treatment indicated little difference in preference; acceptability at this point was driven by factors such as finding it fun to visit 'the van' (i.e. mobile dental unit) and receiving a "sticker" rather than specific treatment received. Interviews with parents, clinicians and school staff indicated high acceptability of delivering this type of intervention in a school setting; this may have been partly due to the service being delivered by a well-established, child-oriented community dental service which delivered the clinical trial. Preventive fluoride varnish and fissure sealant treatments in a school setting has high overall acceptability.

Selective carious tissue removal using subjective criteria or polymer bur: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (SelecCT)

IntroductionSelective (incomplete/partial) carious tissue removal is suitable for treating deep carious lesions in teeth with vital, asymptomatic pulps. In the periphery of a cavity, removal to hard dentin is performed,...

Financial Analysis of Mobile Dental Unit

Financial Analysis of Mobile Dental Unit

The oral health condition and treatment needs assessment of nursing home residents in Flanders (Belgium).

A study was conducted of nursing home residents with limited access to regular oral health care services to evaluate their oral health status, to perform an assessment of the need for oral treatment and to determine the possible predicting value of age, gender, care dependency and income level on their oral health status and treatment needs. Three experienced dentists collected clinical oral health data with a mobile dental unit in 23 nursing homes. Socio-demographic data were extracted from the residents' records in the nursing home. Besides the descriptive and bivariate analysis, a general linear mixed model analysis was also performed with the nursing home as random effect. The study sample consisted of 1,226 residents with a mean age of 83.9 years, of which 41.9% were edentulous. The mean D₃MFt in the dentate group was 24.5 and 77% needed extractions or fillings. In the group of residents wearing removable dentures, 36.9% needed repair, rebasing or renewal of the denture. The mixed model analysis demonstrated that with each year a resident gets older, the oral health outcomes get worse and that men have worse oral health and higher treatment needs than women. However, the level of income and care dependency had a less extensive role in predicting the oral health outcomes. The nursing home residents presented a poor overall oral health status and high dental and prosthetic treatment needs. Gender and age were important predicting variables for the oral health outcomes.

Effectiveness of Prevention-oriented School Oral Health Program in a Private School in Pimpri, Pune

Introduction: Programs oriented toward prevention have proven to be highly rewarding in reducing the dental disease burden in western populations. Some developing countries have also reported studies of school health programs with varying effectiveness. However, reports regarding improved effectiveness due to mobile dental unit are scarce. Thus, the present study aims at assessment of effectiveness of prevention-oriented school health program in a private school in Pimpri, Pune. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted from May 2015 to June 2016 in Dr. D.Y. Patil school among 449 students aged 5 and 10 years using census sampling. Ethical clearance was obtained from Institutional Ethics Committee of Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital and permission was obtained from the school principal. The study was conducted in 3 phases. SPSS version 18 was used for analyzing the data. Results: There was significant reduction in decayed component and a significant increase in filled component in primary and permanent dentition. There was a significant reduction in treatment needs, i.e., one surface, two surface fillings, and pulp care and restoration. Conclusion: It can be concluded that this prevention-oriented 1-year program was helpful in improving the oral health of the children.

Oral health and medical conditions among Amish children.

Background: The Amish are a growing population who live a traditional, rural way of life, which makes them less accepting of modernism. Most Amish live in poverty and are detached from modern health care. In addition, the recent change of their lifestyle has been reported, such as consuming a nontraditional diet and the usage of electronic devices. As a result, their lifestyle change may have impacted their oral health. However, since only a single report about oral health among Amish children has been published approximately three decades ago it has not yet been updated. This study describes oral health among Amish children and their medical conditions during visits to a mobile dental unit (MDU). Material and Methods: The dental records of all patients (N=216) who visited a mobile dental unit were reviewed, which covers 1 year from May 20, 2011, the first date of service. The following factors were taken into consideration during the review process: parental perceptions of their children’s oral health care, dental care experiences, and general health information. Results: Fifty-four (27.8%) children, ages 3 to 17, have never received dental treatment before visiting the MDU; the average number of untreated decayed teeth was 6.8. In spite of this, most parents rated their children’s oral health as good or very good (87.7%). The high cost and long distance travel associated with routine, professional dental care makes it difficult for children to maintain good oral hygiene. Our analysis revealed that bleeding disorders were more prevalent among this gene pool compared to the nation at large; however, asthma was less common. Conclusions: There are oral and general health disparities among Amish children. There is a lack of awareness among Amish parents with regard to their children’s oral health. Key words:Amish, child, dental caries, mobile health units.