VCU news

By Malorie Burkett

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry’s mobile dental van has been deployed to Gulfport, Miss., to provide dental services to Hurricane Katrina victims and to underserved and underinsured patients in the area.

Mississippi’s Department of Health requested the dental van, which is being used by military dental officers in an area designated the Nevada-1 site.

According to the Virginia Dental Association dentistry services were being performed in a tent prior to the mobile dental van’s arrival.

Virginia Dental Association officials also say there may be a medical outreach project planned for New Orleans in February 2006. If that happens, VCU School of Dentistry students and faculty will be involved by managing the project’s dental portion.

The dental van will remain in the area through the end of February.