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Development and Implementation of Friendly Dental Services: A University-Based Community Oral Health Model for Vulnerable Populations

DOI : https://doi.org/10.36349/easjdom.2026.v08i04.002
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Access to oral healthcare remains a significant challenge for vulnerable populations due to social, economic, geographic, and cultural barriers that limit the availability and utilization of dental services. In response to these challenges, the Faculty of Dentistry Mexicali of the Autonomous University of Baja California developed the Friendly Dental Services Program, a university-based community oral health model designed to promote equitable access to oral healthcare through a people-centered, inclusive, and community-oriented approach. The program integrates oral health promotion, disease prevention, clinical care, referral systems, community participation, and interdisciplinary collaboration within a framework grounded in human rights, social inclusion, interculturality, and health equity. Through the operation of a Mobile Dental Unit and the establishment of collaborative partnerships with governmental institutions, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders, the program seeks to extend oral healthcare services beyond traditional clinical settings and reach populations facing barriers to care. The operational framework consists of six phases: health promotion and education, community and clinical assessment, primary dental intervention, referral and secondary care, clinical and community follow-up, and program evaluation. In addition to improving access to oral healthcare, the program contributes to professional training, community engagement, and the development of sustainable strategies aimed at reducing oral health disparities. This article describes the development, implementation, and operational structure of the Friendly Dental Services Program as a university-based model for community oral healthcare. The experience highlights the potential role of higher education institutions in promoting oral health equity, social inclusion, and community well-being through accessible and culturally sensitive dental services.

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Professor Thomas Count Dracula, MD, PhD

Distinguished Professor of Haematology Head — Experimental, Historical & Sensory Haematology Vlad the Impaler University, Wolf’s Lane, Wooden Stakes Grove 666, Transylvania.

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