Dental
Dental caries, also known as tooth decay, is the most common chronic disease in children.
In 2014, Mobile Care Chicago added its first Dental Van– an innovative mobile clinic following a “dental home” model of care, the first of its kind in Illinois. The Dental Van is a comprehensive dental clinic that has the same features and services as a brick-and-mortar practice, with the capability to perform X-rays, complex restorative procedures, educate on oral care, and of course, provide routine cleanings.
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MCC’s aim with the Dental Van is twofold: to offer free, accessible, high-quality care to children in underserved communities and to ensure continuity of care, a benefit many of our patients do not normally experience. The Dental Van visits each school site twice a year, serving as a true dental home for patients until they reach the age of 18.
This arrangement eliminates the need for patient guardians to take time off work or incur expenses for their child’s biannual check-ups, irrespective of insurance coverage.
In FY23, MCC accomplished the
following health outcomes:
93 %
of patients reporting
no oral pain
98 %
of patients reporting
no missed school days*
94 %
patients reporting no
ER or urgent care visits
