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Identification and Description of Mobile Dental Programs – A Brief Communication
Author(s) -
Carr Brian R.,
Isong Umo,
Weintraub Jane A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of public health dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1752-7325
pISSN - 0022-4006
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2007.00072.x
Subject(s) - medicaid , economic shortage , family medicine , identification (biology) , medicine , dental health , dental care , the internet , health care , medical education , political science , linguistics , philosophy , botany , government (linguistics) , world wide web , computer science , law , biology
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify and describe mobile dental programs in California. Methods : The programs were identified by Internet searches, county health officers, local dental society directors, mobile program directors, and others. A cross‐sectional survey was mailed to program directors if their programs provide clinical dental services beyond screening and education. Results : In California, 33 programs were identified; survey response rate was 70 percent. The populations most likely to be served were those with low‐income (100 percent), elementary (77 percent) and preschool (68 percent) children, non‐English speakers (64 percent), and the Medicaid‐eligible (64 percent). At least half of the programs were providing services in designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas. Most program directors indicated that if their program was discontinued, it would be “very difficult” (61 percent) or “difficult” (35 percent) for the target populations to get dental services. Conclusions: Mobile dental programs are a highly variable, but important, strategy for bringing dental care to many underserved populations.