How much does a mobile dental unit cost?

Dental Economics reports that a mobile unit and necessary equipment can cost less than an initial investment of $40,000. However, the expense of opening a dental office can easily reach $100,000 to $250,000.

What are mobile dental services?

1.5 A MOBILE DENTAL SERVICE is any dental service that provides care to patients at locations other than a fixed dental clinic. This may include the use of a dental van, or portable equipment that can be taken into a variety of settings to provide access to dental care.

How do I start a mobile dental clinic?

5 Strategies for a Successful Mobile Dental Program

1. Establish the Need, Develop a Plan and Connect with the Community.
2. Assure Local Dentists There is no Conflict of Interest.
3. Alert the Community, Engage State Agencies, Public Health Nurses and School Nurses.
4. Hire Dental Staff Who Are Devoted and Will Embrace Your Mission.

How do you increase dental patient volume?

Strategies to Increase Patient Volume in Your Dental Practice

1. Make it Easy to Book an Appointment.
2. Send a Friendly Welcome Email With Intake Form.
3. Get Set Up on Google My Business.
4. Use Custom Recall Reminders.
5. Build a Meaningful Relationship With Patients.
6. Establish Yourself as an Expert Online & Face to Face.

What is a good patient retention rate?

If your practice is like others, you might be in the “normal” patient attrition rate of 10 to 30 percent. Of course, these rates vary by practice type, location, and patient population, so don’t take the normal range as a positive or negative indication of how your practice is doing.

How would you describe a dental clinic?

The dental clinic is a place where a dentist performs dental procedures and treatments on patients. Dental clinics can be found in hospitals, schools, government offices, and other health-related establishments. The clinic is usually a single room housing all dental equipment and tools.

What are the benefits of mobile dental services?

This helps patients that would otherwise have to travel a long distance to reach a dentist. The mobile dental services model offers access to dental care, preventive healthcare, and chronic disease screening and management services. Specific services offered by mobile dental programs may include dental exams, education, and dental sealants.

What is a mobile dentistry program?

Mobile dentistry programs provide both preventive and restorative oral health services. Mobile dentistry programs mediate financial barriers, accessibility and psychological obstructions to the populations they serve. According to The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) there are four common school dental service models.

Are fixed clinics better than mobile clinics?

In fact, building and operating a fixed clinic is shown to be much more expensive. And though traditionally a mobile clinic cannot see as many patients, its lower cost to entry and comparatively marginal operating costs make it a worthy investment on behalf of for-profit institutions and NPOs that need to reach vulnerable populations.

How can rural dental programs support the mobile dental services model?

Relationships with community stakeholders are imperative to the success of the mobile dental services model. Rural programs have worked with schools and government agencies that are vested in the program to provide electricity, water, and septic hook-ups for mobile dental vans.