Ronald McDonald Care Mobile

Did you know that tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease today (source: Oral Health America) More than 51 million hours of schooling are lost annually due to the lack of dental care among children. One of our stops along the way to San Francisco was a visit to the Dental Ronald McDonald Care Mobile in Richmond, CA. We were so amazed at our visit to the Ronald McDonald House a few months ago that we were eager to visit the mobile care unit! Not receiving dental care can lead to a more serious illness, and not only effect your health but your self-esteem as well. The first thing that most people notice is your smile and not having confidence about your smile can lead to low self-esteem and depression. There are only two Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Dental offices in California - this one in Richmond, and one in Santa Clara.

Once inside, we were amazed at how it looked just like an actual dentist office - maybe even a bit better looking than some I've seen..... They do more than just an exam here - they can do a full cleaning, x-rays, and even some minor dental work for those that need it. If it's major work that needs to be done they will refer the patient out to a children's specialist. Many of the patients seen here have not seen a dentist in a very long time; and some not at all. Lack of dental care has a profound impact on not only the patient, but the community as well. It can lead to lower educational attainment, reduced family income, lost worker productivity, and a strained national and world economy.


A big thank you to the Ronald McDonald Charities, John Muir Health & Chris for taking time out of their busy schedules to talk to us a bit about the amazing work they continue to do everyday with the Ronald McDonald Mobile Dental Care Unit.....it's like a dentist on an 18 wheeler!