Dentaid offers first mobile dental clinics in County Durham

Dentaid the Dental Charity has made its first stop in County Durham, offering free emergency treatment for people experiencing homelessness, poverty and harm.

We’ve been working in partnership with Waythrough to deliver services for those whose addictions to drugs and alcohol make it difficult for them to access dental services through standard appointments.

The volunteer-led services, held at Waythrough’s Horden Recovery Centre on June 17th, 18th and 19th, will be followed by further clinics in the town later this year, along with ones in Bishop Auckland and Durham. In all, 24 visits are currently planned between June 2025 and January 2026.

We run clinics at soup kitchens, hostels, temporary accommodation and community buildings across the UK, using its fleet of eleven mobile dental units to provide care directly in the places where people can access help for their issues.

Those experiencing homelessness or dealing with addiction can face serious challenges in accessing support for issues with their teeth and gums. More than half of those who are rough sleeping or vulnerably housed are living with long-term toothache, according to research by Groundswell. Some may turn to substances like drugs or alcohol specifically to numb pain in their teeth.

Jill Harding, Head of Communications and Fundraising at Dentaid said: “To be able to expand our services into County Durham for the first time is a key milestone for Dentaid.

“We know lots of people here find it difficult to access an NHS dentist, particularly those facing health inequalities.

“It’s a privilege to work alongside our dedicated clinicians and support staff to ensure that people who have been in long-term dental pain can now get the treatment and support they need.

“By bringing our services directly to those the most vulnerable in our communities, we can help to transform lives in places they feel safe and secure.”

“We are really proud to be working with Dentaid to support our service users to access dental care”, added Jane Curtis, Area Manager at County Durham Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services.

“Dental health is so important and can often go overlooked. This initiative has so far proved extremely popular which highlights how much need is there within our communities.”

We are looking for volunteers to help with further clinics in County Durham and Gateshead and would like to hear from dentists and dental nurses who would like to give their time to support those in under-served areas.

More information about volunteering can be found here.