UTHealth, Ronald McDonald House Charities unveil new mobile dental clinic

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is a mobile dental care unit created by the University of Texas Health and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry dedicated the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile at noon Friday, Oct. 5 along with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/Galveston.

The two organizations joined forces in order to make affordable oral pediatric care more accessible to the Houston/Galveston area, according to a university press release. The mobile care unit will provide preventative dental care and treatment to children and teens. UT Health School of Dentistry will provide personnel and supplies for the unit.

"We are thrilled with this new partnership, as it is a perfect match with our commitment to children's oral health and expansion of our community outreach efforts. The new Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will also provide a unique learning opportunity for our students," John Valenza, dean of the School of Dentistry, said in the release.

The school has offered mobile dental services since 2002, traveling more than 60,000 miles and treating more than 24,000 patients in remote locations, at health fairs and to those affected by natural disasters.

Due to the need for a larger vehicle in order to continue the outreach missions, the school partnered with RMHC. This will shift treatment to pediatric dentistry, while previously, both children and adults were treated.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile has three patient care bays for treatment and x-rays can be taken with hand-held units. The van has space for a dental hygiene student, faculty dentist, two dental students and two dental assistants.

For more information, visit rmhcghg.org/caremobile.html.