Forward Leeds is celebrating the successful launch of a new mobile dental clinic.
In partnership with Dentaid: The Dental Charity, the alcohol and drug support service is now bringing vital dental treatment directly to people accessing the service.
For many people affected by drug or alcohol use, accessing dental care can be a significant challenge. Anxiety, previous negative experiences, homelessness, financial pressures and not being registered with a dentist can all create barriers, leaving people living with pain and untreated dental problems.
Dentaid’s fully equipped mobile dental unit has been visiting the Forward Leeds in Armley, offering appointments. The service provides fillings, extractions, treatment for infections and abscesses, scale and polish appointments, oral health advice and referrals for more complex treatment where needed.
For many people, the impact goes far beyond improving their teeth.
Saeed Younus, Forward Leeds Clinical Lead for Armley said: “Poor oral health can affect your confidence, self-esteem and overall wellbeing. Damaged teeth can serve as a constant reminder of past substance use. By bringing dental care into our service we are helping people improve both their physical health and confidence as they move forward in their recovery journey.
“We know that many of the people we support have lived with dental pain for months or even years because accessing a dentist simply hasn’t felt possible. This partnership with Dentaid removes many of those barriers. Looking after someone’s oral health is an important part of supporting their overall recovery, wellbeing and confidence.”
The regular clinics have already helped people experiencing pain, infections and untreated decay,
One person who attended the clinic shared their experience:
The introduction of the mobile dental clinic reflects Forward Leeds’ commitment to supporting every aspect of recovery. Alongside specialist support for drug and alcohol use, improving physical health and reducing health inequalities helps people build healthier, happier and more independent lives.
If you are accessing support through Forward Leeds and would like to find out more about upcoming Dentaid clinics, please speak to your Recovery Coordinator or a member of the team.