Performance evaluation of mobile dental services: A four-year community outreach experience

Abstract Background Mobile dental clinics (MDC) are fundamental in delivering oral health services to underserved populations. Evaluating their service patterns provides insights for optimizing outreach programs. Objective The aim of this study is to examine the utilization of MDC over four years of community outreach programs in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, by analyzing (1) the number of visits per year, (2) the number and age distribution of beneficiaries, and (3) the pattern of provided services. Methods This retrospective descriptive study analyzed records from 58 outreach events conducted by MDC operated by the College of Dental Medicine at Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia (AY 2021–2025). The data included number of visits, number of beneficiaries, their age groups, type of services provided, and level of satisfaction with the service. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests and Pearson’s correlation were used for statistical analysis with significance set at p < 0.05. Results The MDC served 2049 beneficiaries through 58 outreaches involving 802 volunteers. Overall, screening was the most frequent service (39.6%), followed by preventive (25.9%), emergency (20.7%), and restorative (13.8%) treatments. Children (< 13 years) were most of the beneficiaries (35%). Operational trends showed a steady increase in number of visits and beneficiaries over time, with a considerably high level of satisfaction reported. Higher satisfaction was observed for emergency and restorative services (97.3 ± 1.7%) than for screening (85.7 ± 2.9%) or preventive (90.1 ± 2.4%; p < 0.05). Conclusion The study provides baseline evidence on the utilization of MDC and age-appropriate service delivery. These findings can guide future planning and expansion of such initiatives.