Dentists On Wheels: New Mobile Clinic Hits The Streets In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — Newark residents have another reason to smile with the rollout of a new “mobile dental center.”

City officials recently gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony at City Hall to introduce the new clinic-on-wheels to the public.

The vehicle has two fully functional operatories, allowing health care workers to see multiple patients at the same time. It is equipped to provide general dental services, emergency treatment and preventive care.

Services offered include routine cleanings, examinations, fillings, extractions, emergency dental treatment and preventive education.

According to city officials, the mobile clinic will be making visits to places where traditional dental offices may not be easily accessible, including schools, senior centers and community centers.

The clinic has already found a fan in Newark resident and patient Kenneth Howard.

“Since doing my dental procedure, I have gone from someone who wouldn’t even smile, to now performing on stage as an actor, doing plays as a second career,” Howard enthused.

The mobile clinic expands on the services already provided at the Department of Health and Community Wellness Mary Eliza Mahoney Health Center at 110 William Street. The brick-and-mortar dental center is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the first and third Saturdays of each month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information or to schedule a visit from the mobile dental unit, contact (973) 424-4220. To schedule an appointment for dental services at the Mary Eliza Mahoney Health Center, call 1-800-734-7083.

“The acquisition of a dental mobile unit gives us the ability to join with community partners to organize and imbed dental care into programs and events that are happening across our city,” Director of Health and Community Wellness Ketlen Alsbrook said.

“Our new dental mobile unit represents a vital step toward closing the gap in health care access for underserved communities in Newark,” agreed Baseemah Marshall, dental director at the Department of Health and Community Wellness – Mary Eliza Mahoney Health Center.

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