A new mobile dental van has been unveiled to expand access to dental services for primary school children, the Teeth on Wheels organisation announced on Friday. The service now visits about 200 schools and treats roughly 25,000 children each year, founder and practitioner Joseph Zeid said.
The van, named Jasmine after the Disney princess, includes a waiting area where children can bring friends and a television to play cartoons during appointments.
Joseph said students helped choose the name; the organisation follows a long-standing tradition of naming vehicles and clinics using initials from family members. “The first six we have named relate to our parents and grandparents,” he said.
Teeth on Wheels was founded 10 years ago by Joseph and his brother, Rami, to reduce fear and stigma around dental care. Joseph recalled growing up with negative associations with the dentist because of how his mother reassured them — saying phrases such as “don’t be scared, we’re going to be okay, be brave.”
The mobile units are licensed to perform X-rays and carry out some fillings and extractions, Joseph said, allowing the team to intervene early and prevent more complex treatments later.
The organisation also aims to help parents who struggle to find time to take children to clinic appointments by delivering care directly at schools.
Organisers described the launch as an opportunity to reach underserved children and normalise dental visits through a child-friendly environment and on-site treatment.