What Services Do Mobile Dental Clinics Provide?
Mobile dental clinics offer a wide range of dental care services to people around the country who would otherwise struggle to access preventative and restorative care. Most mobile clinics are essentially a smaller version of traditional, fixed dental clinics.
Depending on the size of the vehicle or static unit, these clinics typically have at least two chairs just like those you would find in an ordinary dentist office. Additionally, most have x-ray facilities and all the equipment necessary to perform preventative and restorative treatments, including:
- Cleanings
- Fluoride treatments
- Fillings
- Extractions
- Root canals
- Crowns
- Bridges
- Dentures
Mobile dental clinics are primarily designed to provide essential oral care to people who cannot access conventional clinics or do not have dental insurance. As a result, they tend not to offer cosmetic dental treatments like implants or veneers.
Mobile dental clinics often have ramps, wheelchair lifts, and other disabled-access equipment. If you require this kind of assistance, it would be wise to call your nearest mobile clinic ahead of time to make sure it is available.

School-Based Mobile Dental Clinics
Many mobile dentistry programs specialize in children’s oral health. These services are usually delivered at schools via a mobile dental van or temporary clinic. According to the American Dental Association, these initiatives have been implemented to educate children on the importance of oral health, while also providing screenings and treatments.
It is estimated that 51 million hours of schooling are lost each year due to dental problems and poor oral health. Poor dental health in children may be caused by:
- Living in rural areas where there are no fixed dental clinics
- Parents being unable to take time off work to take kids to dental appointments
- Fear of attending dental appointments
- Parents not being able to afford dental treatment
School-based mobile dental clinics help to mitigate these issues by providing convenient access to screenings and oral care during the school day. Moreover, these programs go a long way towards tackling dental anxiety, as kids are able to visit the dentist in a familiar environment.
Contact your local health department to find out if there are any school-based dental programs running in your area. School administrators may also be able to tell you when their next screening programs are due to take place.