Advanced new training for Wales’ future dentists

Dental students are set to benefit from the most some of the most modern training facilities in the UK.

Julie Morgan, Assembly Member for Cardiff North today opened the refurbished Dental Education Clinic at the University’s School of Dentistry.

The clinic will enable 34 student dentists to treat patients in real-life situations.

Mrs Morgan also opened the School’s highly-advanced new laboratories, part of its on-going drive to build research capacity.

The Dental Education Clinic is a suite of 34 dental chairs, each furnished with the latest IT enabled dental equipment allowing student dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists to treat patients. There are ambidextrous units, where left-handed dentists can also train. The suite is also supported by two radiography units. The £1.5M project was funded by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

The School has also created new laboratory facilities, funded by a £650,000 grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. The development includes refurbishment and re-equipment of the Pathology Laboratory, now named after the late Russ Allison, a scientific officer in oral pathology at the School.

The School has also expanded its microbiology facilities by 50 per cent to accommodate a significant increase in research in this area. Space has also been converted to create new tissue culture rooms, a large general purpose laboratory and microscope rooms, including one laser scanning microscope.

Professor Mike Lewis, Dean of the Dental School and Division Director of Dental Services in the University Health Board, said: "These twin developments are major steps forward for the Dental School and Dental Hospital. The facilities in the Dental Education Clinic are now as good as any in the UK. Our students will be able to treat real patients in real situations with state of the art equipment.

"The new research equipment and laboratories will be matched an equivalent expansion in our research teams, following the School’s success in securing grants from Europe, charities, industry and the scientific funding councils. In particular, the new highly-advanced Pathology Laboratory will be a fitting tribute to Russ Allison, who was a much respected and valued colleague. We are extremely grateful to the Welsh Government for supporting both projects."

Health Minister, Lesley Griffiths added:"It is important to have an expert resource such as this new Oral Health Clinic to train our future workforce of dental practitioners.

"This new facility, which combines modern technology with everyday learning, will deliver the wide range of skills and competencies from a range of oral health practitioners required to prevent and treat poor dental health in future."

Related Links:

School of Dentistry

Welsh Government

Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board