Abstract
Aims: 29% of the French population is no longer able to seek treatment. It is in this context that the Social Bus Dental Association was created, on 15th October 1996, to participate, promote and facilitate access to dental care for the poorest, including the provision of of emergency care, to those not enjoying the opportunities to use the health national care system, by commissioning and operating a mobile dental clinic.
Methods: A dental practice was designed in an « Iveco » van respecting all the rules of hygiene and administration. It is itinerant and there are 9 sessions per week, held at charitable institutions. The Bus is operated in Paris by a team of 35 voluntary dentists, with a coordinator in charge of leading and managing the association, a driver / multi assistant moving the bus and providing operational maintenance and a dental / social assistant directing patients to the various services to obtain care and treatment.
Results: In 2015, a total of 320 sessions were held in the bus, 2061 patient consultations took place including screening / orientation of about 455 patients. The patients treated in the bus are generally young (73% of patients are under 40 years old) and predominantly male (79% men to 21% women). The treatments performed by voluntary dentists are mainly divided between conservative care, endodontic and periodontal treatment and extractions or oral surgery.
Conclusion: With a modern and functional mobile unit and with a motivated team of voluntary dentists providing over 300 sessions per year, the bus has a dual role of providing dental emergency care and addressing social inequalities. It is also provides a friendly welcome, bringing immediate pain relief and creating the opportunity for social rehabilitation through oral rehabilitation. Acknowledgement of sources of funding: Financial partners over the years are numerous. We thank in particular the National Order of Dental Surgeons, the Regional Agency of Health and the city of Paris
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.