322 - Role of a Mobile Dental Unit in Increasing Access to Dental Care

This two-year interventional study assessed the impact of a Mobile Dental Unit (MDU) on improving access to care in underserved populations of preschoolers. Participants included children aged 0–5 years old enrolled in Head Start programs living below the federal poverty level (FPL). Over the study period, the Yale-New Haven Hospital MDU completed 444 dental visits across 18 early childhood centers. Pediatric dental residents and faculty conducted comprehensive evaluations, including clinical and radiographic assessments, and facilitated making follow-up visits to address any treatment needs. Key metrics included decayed teeth (dt), treated teeth (tt), decayed and filled teeth (dft), and caries prevalence, among others. While results showed a decrease in dt scores and an increase in tt scores over the two-year period, the amount of treatment needs far exceeded state and national statistics. Additionally, the amount of patients who completed treatment was relatively low. This study underscores the potential of mobile dental services to reduce barriers to care and improve oral health outcomes in vulnerable populations.