Queensland Health vans brings dentistry to the people

Queensland Health is making inroads to bringing dental care closer to patients with its impressive new fleet of mobile dental clinics. One of the recently completed new clinics - the third of six new vans being built by Specialised Vehicle Manufacture (SVM) Queensland - was on display at the recent ADA Congress in Brisbane.

The mobile clinics feature two separate surgeries, a central sterilization room, patient reception area and separate office. A separate hallway provides direct access to either surgery without having to walk through the sterilization room.

The new fleet of vans each measure 14.5 metres long, 2.5 metres wide and 4 metres high and weigh around 18.5 tonnes. However, when parked, the van extends by a further metre in width to accommodate the hallway linking the reception area with both the surgeries.

Despite the physical size restraints to meet road regulations, the amount of space inside the vans is quite remarkable.

Each surgery includes a dental chair, sink, stainless steel splash-back, patient lounge, ample storage cabinets, air conditioning and Kodak digital X-ray units that fold neatly for transport.

One of the surgeries features an A-dec 500 dental unit with traditional delivery system and separate assistant's instruments and suction on an articulating delivery arm. The other surgery features a Belmont knee-break chair and disabled access via an hydraulic lift at the end of the van. Both surgeries have ceiling-mounted A-dec lighting.

Equally impressive is the comprehensively equipped galley style sterilization room with stainless steel bench-top and sink, W&H 'Lisa' B-Type sterilizer, washer disinfector, Waeco refrigerator, Ultrasonic cleaner, handpiece maintenance unit and other equipment.

Video monitors are installed at each end of the van, which has internal doors throughout for privacy and security. The stairs at each end of the van extend hydraulically. The main entry at the front of the van is also covered by an extending awning for shade and protection from the elements.

Two vans are now in service at the Gold Coast and Jimboomba with the other four vans expected to be deployed to the Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Metropolitan North and Darling Downs-West Moreton regions.