Mobile dental clinic: an oral health care delivery model for underserved migrant children.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the oral health status, access, and the role of mobile dental clinics in improving the oral health of migrant children.


METHODS
Parents attending University of Southern California's Mobile Dental Clinics completed a questionnaire about their children's access to dental care.


RESULTS
54 percent of children were unable to access needed care, and prevalence of untreated decay was 87.4 percent.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental needs are high among migrant children. Mobile clinics provide a safety net for them.
Mulligan
Roseann
R
Community Health Programs, University of Southern California, School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA.
Seirawan
Hazem
H
Faust
Sherry
S
Habibian
Mina
M
D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008952:Mobile Health Units; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014098:Toothache / Q000453:epidemiology; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data