Health centers may consider the option of a mobile dental unit or a program using portable dental equipment to expand off-site direct dental services outside of a traditional fixed dental clinic. Health centers can use this checklist in planning for a mobile program or program using portable dental equipment.

• Build the case and get support for a mobile, portable, or hybrid program to expand oral health services, especially in rural areas experiencing access barriers. The National Rural Health Resource Center has resources for improving oral health care services in rural areas including dental health provider shortage areas.

• Determine the setting (e.g., school, homeless shelter, residential facilities, long term care facilities, primary care medical clinic) and delivery model (e.g., mobile, portable, or hybrid program) through a needs assessment.

• Establish goals and objectives for the program.

• Establish community partnerships.

• Determine the health IT system and how the mobile dental unit or portable equipment program will handle patient records. It is critical that mobile/portable dental units are able to access and integrate electronic dental records (EDR). Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCN) provide HIT support to health centers. The NACHC Network Resource Guide provides information about HCCN support capabilities and services.

• Establish quality assurance/improvement and patient safety protocol and processes. The Association for Dental Safety (ADS) is a resource for patient safety in the mobile/portable dental settings. 

• Establish an ongoing program evaluation and quality improvement process.

A NNOHA promising practice, Adding Restorative Care to Health Center Mobile Dental Programs describes a health center’s experience in adding restorative care to their health center’s mobile dental program.  Another NNOHA promising practice, Implementing Mobile Dental Services in an Elder Care Facility, discusses a health center’s experience in using mobile dental units to provide care to the elder population.