Success By 6 Dental Van

The Success By 6 Dental Van makes dental health easy for those who are covered by Medicaid or who have little or no insurance. It travels to communities around the county, offering screening, cleaning, fillings and sealants to children from infants to age 17.

The 39-foot van is staffed by a combination of dental hygienists and pediatric dentists from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. It is designed to provide a wide range of pediatric dental services using two fully equipped dental stations with state-of-the-art in dental equipment for x-rays, diagnostics, and sterilization.

Each child receiving services must have a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian, so parents or guardians must accompany their child to the Van. Appointments are available by calling ahead to these local numbers, 560-5127 or toll-free 866-254-0052, or walk-ins are treated on a first-come first-served basis.

Dental screenings take about ten minutes. As with any other medical appointment, there will be some forms to complete. The forms, available in English and Spanish, will ask about insurance and the child's dental and medical history. The dentist or hygienist will look, and possibly touch inside your child's mouth and determine whether your child's teeth need cleaning, x-rays, or additional diagnostic testing.

Cleanings and other diagnostic work take more time and an appointment is required. If you just walked in, you may have to schedule a follow-up appointment. If you came with a scheduled appointment, the dentist can do the work immediately. The average visit to the dentist will take about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the age of the child and the amount of work that needs to be done. Parents will have the option of being referred to a local dentist or selecting treatment on the van.

The Mobile Dental Van, developed by United Way Success By 6, is operated by the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.

Click here to download the 2008-09 Dental Van schedule.

The information provided at this site is intended only as a complement to the advice and treatment of your health care professionals.