Dentaid The Dental Charity has announced the launch of its ninth mobile dental unit, made possible by a generous donation from The Health Lottery. The state-of-the-art mobile dental surgery will be unveiled in Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday 18th June, providing dental care for people affected by homelessness and substance misuse.
The Health Lottery, which has helped raise over £130 million for various causes across Great Britain since its inception, funded the refurbishment, stocking and preparation of this new unit. Their contribution will also support monthly dental clinics in Weston-super-Mare throughout the summer.
The new mobile unit will enable hundreds of volunteer dentists and dental nurses to provide a range of services, including oral cancer screenings, dental health advice, scale and polish, fillings and extractions. This outreach will serve diverse groups, including people experiencing homelessness, survivors of abuse, cancer patients, fishing communities, families living below the poverty line, and those at risk due to substance misuse.
As the demand for Dentaid’s services continues to soar, the charity has expanded its fleet of mobile dental units with significant backing from the dental industry and its supporters. This year, Dentaid will hold nearly 900 dental clinics across the UK, a remarkable increase from 422 clinics last year.
“The support from The Health Lottery came at a crucial time,” said Andy Evans, CEO of Dentaid. “We urgently needed this vehicle to begin delivering care. Our ninth unit will provide essential outreach for the most vulnerable people in our communities who often face insurmountable barriers to accessing dental treatment. Every day, we witness how dental care can transform lives by alleviating pain and boosting confidence. We’re immensely grateful to The Health Lottery for their support in helping us deliver these vital services.”
“We are delighted to support Dentaid’s incredible work,” added Carly Troullis from The Health Lottery. “Our mission is to help improve the health and well-being of vulnerable people.”
