It’s a project three years in the making.
Gift from the Heart unveiled its new Mobile Outreach Dental Clinic at Loyalist College on Wednesday.
The mobile clinic will allow the organization to perform emergency dental care for individuals such as extractions, fillings and preventative care.
“As we know, everything is going up in cost and dental health is no exception,” CEO of Gift from the Heart, Bev Woods, tells Quinte News.
“At the end of the day, people have to make a big decision whether they’re going to put food on the table or keep their houses warm this winter. Dental care is really low on the totem pole, but it should be the most important thing that people are looking at – keeping their mouth and their oral health and overall wellness intact.”
Woods says the project began by contacting Venture Food Trucks, which, as the name suggests specializes in creating food trucks, and pitched them the idea of something they have never done before.
“This is an amazing, well-built trailer that’s been converted into a state of the art (clinic), fully operational, can go off the grid with a generator so we can take this trailer anywhere.”
Gift from the Heart CEO Bev Woods showcasing the new Mobile Outreach Dental Clinic. November 29, 2023. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
While the launch of the mobile clinic is a big help for Gift of the Heart, Woods said there are still some obstacles to overcome.
“Our biggest obstacle that we need help with is we need dental professionals such as dental assistants, registered hygienists and of course dentists to join our fight.”
“Help us out, give some time and help us to provide the care. There’s hundreds and hundreds of people with dental emergencies right now that need our help.”
The mobile clinic will hit the road in early 2024.
Back of the Mobile Outreach Dental Centre. November 29, 2023. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
