The Mobile Dentaid Unit Provides Care for Vulnerable People

Left to right: Jane LeLean, Andy Evans and Emma Buday on the mobile dental unit

First patient at Trussell Trust

A patient at Trinity House

Homeless and vulnerable people in Winchester and Salisbury have been provided with dental care onboard the mobile Dentaid unit.

The unit has visited Trinity House day centre in Winchester and the Trussell Trust in Salisbury to provide free dental treatment for people who find it difficult to access NHS care. Many had not seen a dentist for several years and were suffering long-term dental pain.

The first patient at Trinity House was 38-year-old Daniel, a former rough sleeper who spent eight months sleeping in a shop doorway. He lives in a hostel now but isn’t registered with a dentist. A few weeks ago, Daniel’s teeth were damaged in a fight and he was suffering considerable pain. ‘I’ve had toothache for ages but didn’t really know what to do about it,’ he said. ‘I would never go to a dentist but when the dentist came here on the bus, I knew I had to see her. I needed three teeth to be taken out and she’s going to do some fillings. I’m over the moon because it’ll stop the toothache.’

Another patient who regularly visits Trinity House—which provides food, showers, medical care and advice services for homeless people—added: ‘I’ve got 32 teeth and 30 of them are alright, which I’m really pleased about. It’s good that a dentist came here to help us.’

Sue McKenna, operations director at Trinity Winchester, said: ‘Unfortunately, many of our clients just don’t go to the dentist and don’t tell us they have a toothache until it’s too late and it’s having a serious impact on their lives. We’ve had to send them to A&E in the past. They have many other things going on in their lives and dental care isn’t usually a priority. But dental problems can affect their self-esteem and prospects—we have people here preparing for job interviews and it’s important they feel comfortable about their teeth. We worked with 620 people last year and most of them need some sort of dental treatment. By bringing the mobile Dentaid unit here, Dentaid is helping to change their lives.’

Dentaid has now paid two visits to Trinity House, treating 13 patients. There are already five more people in Winchester who need dental care and the charity will return to the centre as soon as possible.

The mobile Dentaid unit also visited a project run by antipoverty charity The Trussell Trust, based at St. Michael’s Community Centre in Salisbury. The patients included a woman who had not been to the dentist for 20 years and previously had been too nervous to register for NHS treatment. ‘I never would have gone to the dentist, even though I knew I needed to,’ she said. ‘But the fact that the Dentaid van came to me here at the community centre made it easier for me. The dentist made me feel really relaxed and safe. I know I have lots of problems with my teeth, but it’s a difficult thing to talk about. I think it’s a really good idea for the van to come here.’

Dentaid’s UK clinical director, Jane Lelean, was the dentist on the unit, with dental nurse Emma Buday working alongside her. In addition to extractions and fillings, the team also provided oral health education and gave toothbrushes and paste to the patients.

Dentaid is grateful to Acteon for donating a scaler and X-ray developer for the unit and to Henry Schein for the medical supplies. The equipment on the van was serviced by Dave Effamy from Dental Directory and WYSdom Technologies generously donated the unit’s IT system and software. Single Use Dental Instruments donated the disposable instruments and the project was also supported by Centre for Dentistry. Dentaid purchased the mobile unit last year with the help of Rotary and the Lions Club.

‘Dentaid is committed to improving oral health and although in the past this has taken us to many of the world’s poorest countries, we know there are many people in this country who find it difficult to access dental treatment,’ said Dentaid CEO Andy Evans. ‘We are delighted that the first patients have been treated on the mobile dental unit, and by taking the service to them we have helped people who have not seen a dentist for many years.’