A new, solar-powered mobile dental unit launched by Dentaid The Dental Charity is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.
Thanks to funding from Bupa Foundation, the lower-emission dental surgery on wheels will be used to provide care for people experiencing homelessness, poverty, harm and abuse.
The vehicle has been specially built to provide Dentaid with a smaller, lighter mobile unit with less environmental impact. Rather than using a generator, the dental equipment is powered by solar panels on the roof backed up by batteries that charge as the vehicle is driven.
As a result, the charity will be able to deliver care in rural communities, central London and other city centres while generating a lower carbon footprint and being ULEZ and Clean Air Zone compliant. The vehicle will be more versatile and enable the charity to reach new locations as demand for its dental clinics continues to rise.
In addition to funding the specially adapted vehicle and light-weight equipment onboard, Bupa Foundation also provided funding for Dentaid to return to Northern Ireland and central London. Clinics in Northern Ireland commenced on the week of 11 November when the dental unit visited Simon Community services in Lisburn, Armagh, Coleraine and Belfast, with volunteers providing care for people who are rough sleeping or vulnerably housed.
In London the vehicle will be used to deliver life-changing dental treatment for people supported by Single Homeless Project in January and March next year.
‘Innovative solution to delivering mobile dentistry’
The new surgery is the 10th in Dentaid’s fleet and is the most cost-effective, versatile and environmentally friendly dental unit on the road. Dental professionals onboard will perform extractions, fillings, scale and polish, x-rays and oral cancer screening, in addition to giving dental health advice.
‘Although our existing charity dental units continue to work incredibly hard for us and we use them to carry out lots of incredible work, like all organisations we are taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint,’ said CEO of Dentaid The Dental Charity Andy Evans.
‘We’ve had a long-held ambition to return to central London and also to deliver care in more rural communities but we need to do this with the lowest environmental impact possible. This new vehicle means we can achieve it.
‘We feel incredibly fortunate that the Bupa Foundation has chosen to support our future in this way. With more than 1,100 clinics to deliver this year – and the prospect of even more in 2025 – securing new vehicles has been critically important.
‘Thanks to Bupa Foundation we’ll have this innovative solution to delivering mobile dentistry in city centres, Northern Ireland and countryside locations allowing us to increase our capacity to help the most vulnerable people in our communities.’
Pictured: Neil Sikka, director of dentistry for Bupa,
Aine Robinson, firector of finance andbusiness support for Simon Community, Andy Evans, CEO for Dentaid The Dental Charity, Teona Bailey, dental nurse and Rebekah Barr, volunteering manager, Simon Community
‘The ability to smile without pain or discomfort can be life-changing’
Anna Russell, Bupa Foundation director for Bupa Global, India & UK, commented: ‘We have supported Dentaid The Dental Charity and its wonderful work for many years, providing essential dental care to some of the most vulnerable individuals who may otherwise struggle to access it.
‘That’s why we’re delighted to fund the charity’s first-of-its-kind low emission dental vehicle, to reach even more communities in a sustainable way and support our purpose of helping people live longer, healthier lives and making a better world.’
Mark Allan, general manager for Bupa Dental Care, added: ‘Dental professionals play a crucial role in promoting oral health and its wider impact on overall wellbeing. It’s therefore so important that charities like Dentaid get the funding they need and where we can reduce the environmental impact it’s a win-win.
‘I’m delighted that our dental colleagues are volunteering their expertise during the vehicle’s first outing.’
Kirsten Hewitt, director of homelessness services for Simon Community, said: ‘Our partnership with Dentaid is incredibly valuable, as it enables us to provide vital oral care and treatment for clients across our services in Northern Ireland. Oral health is a fundamental part of our overall wellbeing, yet it’s often inaccessible for those experiencing homelessness.
‘Through working with Dentaid, we are bridging this gap and offering critical care that not only improves physical health but also restores confidence and dignity. The ability to smile without pain or discomfort can be life-changing, and we are immensely grateful for Dentaid’s commitment to providing these vital services.’
This article is sponsored by Bupa Dental Care.
