Dentaid, The Dental Charity, provides dental care and oral health advice for people experiencing homelessness, abuse, poverty and harm. Their fleet of mobile dental units travel across the UK providing outreach dental clinics for the most vulnerable people in our communities. The charity’s aim is to provide safe and sustainable dental care to those who’ve been living with the misery of toothache and restore their self-esteem by giving them more confidence in their smile. 

Dentaid’s mobile dental units visit soup kitchens, night shelters, hostels, and community centres. On-board volunteer dentists and dental nurses provide free screening and treatments including oral cancer checks, scale and polish, fluoride varnish, x-rays, fillings and extractions. Many of the people they help will not have seen a dentist for many years and may be suffering from anxiety, mental health problems and long-term dental pain. By running a clinic in a location where patients feel safe and familiar, Dentaid can help them out of immediate pain, encourage re-engagement with dental care, and support them in moving forward to a new chapter in their lives.

In 2024, Dentaid expanded their fleet with three new charity dental units, made possible through the support of corporate partners. These vehicles have enabled the charity to significantly increase its work across the UK, delivering care in new communities and helping more vulnerable people access life-changing dental treatment. 

Thanks to the efforts of dedicated volunteers and oral health educators, the BrightBites oral health education programme for school-aged children has seen incredible growth. To date it has reached more than 55,000 children, teaching them about teeth names and function, effective toothbrushing, healthy diets and the importance of visiting a dentist. 

Dentaid has a longstanding legacy of overseas initiatives which continue to support dental partners around the world by assisting them in delivering care to remote communities without access to a dentist. This support includes providing equipment for training and rural outreach, oral health education and a popular volunteering programme. 

Dentaid’s mission is to change lives through dental care. If you are interested in helping out with the BrightBites oral education programme or would like to volunteer at a charity clinic you can find more information on our website (link below).

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Address: 116 Commercial Road, Totton, Hampshire SO40 3AD

For more information visit the Dentaid The Dental Charity website.