Written By: Katherine Adams & Steve Hudson, ODF Staff
At 11:34 a.m., on November 27, 2012, we met our new pride and joy for the first time: a new mobile unit! We knew this marked a monumental time in the Oklahoma Dental Foundation’s history. With it’s completion and arrival, we are able to expand our programs further than we dreamed possible just earlier this year.Our trip started early that day, boarding a flight to Chicago at 6:00 a.m. Finally arriving in Columbus, Ohio, we took a cab to LaBoit Specialty Vehicles, Inc., the manufacturer of the new unit. We were greeted Sales Manager, Koni Wade, and Construction Manager, Wayne Henderson, who gave us a quick tour of our new bundle of joy!
After Wayne thoroughly trained us on all vehicle systems, we took off into Columbus rush hour traffic headed to Oklahoma City. There is nothing like driving a new, unknown vehicle that is worth more than a new Ferrari, in a town you don’t know, to get your adrenaline going!
All in all, we drove 925 miles in two days. The new unit is so easy to drive; we actually made it back to our storage facility in Oklahoma City before 10:00 p.m. on the second day!
Upgrades in New Mobile Dental Unit:
• New floor plan with operatories on either end and welcome area in between
• Digital sensors
• 8,000 lbs. heavier – able to withstand the winds of Oklahoma while driving!
• Drawers and cabinets secured by latches
• Equipment strapped or bolted to ground or countertops for easy and safe transport
• Wheel chair lift
• Operatories can be sectioned off with pocket screens for privacy
• Sinks in both operatories
This is the first time we have had a mobile dental unit that was intentionally built to be one, rather than being retrofitted. Immediately, one can tell a huge difference between our two units. While, we are not putting our previous unit out to pasture, it’s simple; with more units we can treat more patients. The experience of getting to pick up the new mobile unit is something special. We are honored to be a part of an organization that is making such a positive impact on fellow Oklahomans. We look forward to Oklahoma becoming acquainted with our bundle of joy, and the mission of the Oklahoma Dental Foundation reaching even more in need.
