Project Outback Dental (POD)

Dr Robles was teaching at James Cook University when he first thought of establishing a mobile dental surgery. Dental students from JCU are exposed early in their undergraduate training in rural and remote dentistry with various clinical placements in regional parts of Queensland. By establishing North Queensland’s 1st mobile dental surgery, Dr Garret hopes to encourage young graduates to stay and work in regional areas.

Initially towed with our Santorini black 2013 model Land Rover Defender, "defending teeth from cavities in the back of beyond!", our "POD" (dental trailer van) is now better safely towed by our new color matched D350 New Defender 110.  Our 21-foot nondescript all white and outback specified dual axle "clinic-on-wheels" is based on the commercially produced Jayco Basestation toy hauler.  

POD carry on board an A-dec dental chair, a silent dental air compressor, a Cattani portable suction system, and a W&H Lisa sterilisation bench top unit on a dedicated sterilization bay.  We also carry on board a portable Vatech handheld x-ray unit and digital USB sensor.  All our dental equipment were professionally supplied, installed, and regularly maintained by Medical Dental Solutions – a Townsville local family owned medical and dental equipment supplier and service and maintenance company, that is now part of Henry Schein Australia.  The van's treatment room and dental x-ray unit both have consistently passed continuing radiation compliance testing and audits by Queensland Health.

POD regularly services North West Queensland communities in Hughenden, Richmond and Julia Creek, Greenvale, Balgal Beach and Rollingstone, and residents of Home Hill and Ayr, and has travelled as far as Normanton and Barcaldine.

For over ten years, Project Outback Dental (POD) Pty Ltd ®, was the outsourced dental services provider of the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS); and continues to provide school dental services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at St Patrick's College at the Strand, St Teresa's College in Abergowrie, and the NRL Cowboys House.

POD addresses the need of communites identified by Australia’s National Oral Health Plan 2015–2024 - providing much needed dental services to (1) people who are socially disadvantaged or on low incomes, (2) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, (3) people living in regional and remote Australia, and (4) people with additional and/or specialised health care needs.  

For the continued mobile service delivery in rural and remote Queensland, Dr Robles received the North Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) Dentist of the Year Award in 2018; and has been featured by both professional and popular periodicals - the Australian Dental Association Qld Dental Mirror and the RM Williams Outback Magazine.

To find out more about our mobile dental van visits at your town or shire, please call us on 0427298698 or visit POD's website www.projectoutbackdental.com.au