Mobile dental clinic: an oral health care delivery model for underserved migrant children.
Mulligan, Roseann; Seirawan, Hazem; Faust, Sherry; Habibian, Mina
Why this matters
High levels of untreated disease among migrant children can quickly outstrip a mobile program's staffing capacity. Among parents attending mobile dental clinics run by the University of Southern California, 54 percent said their children could not access needed care and untreated decay affected 87.4 percent.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the oral health status, access, and the role of mobile dental clinics in improving the oral health of migrant children. METHODS: Parents attending University of Southern California's Mobile Dental Clinics completed a questionnaire about their children's access to dental care. RESULTS: 54 percent of children were unable to access needed care, and prevalence of untreated decay was 87.4 percent. CONCLUSION: Dental needs are high among migrant children. Mobile clinics provide a safety net for them.