Mobile Dental Unit Helps Keep Smiles Perfect in N.C.
By Jim Ware, Star-News, Wilmington, N.C. |
It could have been a scene out of any pediatric dentist's office in the area, except that this office was on wheels.
The Miles of Smiles Mobile Dental Unit is visiting
"We function just like any other dental office," said dental assistant and team leader
In addition to Houston, the team operating the unit includes dentist Dr.
The unit has been in service since
The unit is a collaborative effort of the
The 53-foot unit looks like a travel trailer from the outside. Inside are three examination chairs, digital and panoramic X-ray equipment, electronic medical records, a waiting room and a sterilization lab.
"We're not trying to compete with other dentists," said Dr.
The unit's target population is children ages 3 to 18 with
"Middle school students don't think it's cool to come out to a mobile dental clinic," he said. High school students are usually seen after school hours for dental emergencies.
Untreated dental decay among kindergartners decreased by 38 percent in
Hunter, who has been with the unit since 2007, said the team usually sees a lot of tooth decay and concentrates on restorative work during its first visits to schools. On later visits, when some of those same students return, the team sees less decay and concentrates on cleaning and preventive care.
The unit works with
"That's probably our biggest area at the beginning of the year," Hunter said.
While the unit has traveled as far south as four miles from the
One of those areas is the Monkey Junction section of
One limiting factor is having dedicated utility hookups and a parking space for the unit at all schools.
This week the unit was parked at the rear of
A driver provided by
Hunter said his goal is to add one school to the unit's rotation each year.
The tricky part is timing visits so at least a year has passed because elementary children can have only one X-ray per year, he said.
As the school year winds down, the unit will be moved to the
The mobile dental unit team can be reached by phone at 512-3113.
"If your child has not been to see the dentist recently, give us a call to find out more information on how our program works." Hunter said.
On Twitter: @jimware
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(c)2012 the Star-News (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Source: | McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Wordcount: | 756 |
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