Dental clinic to offer 12,000 appointments a year

14 hours ago

Jen Smith,South West health correspondentand

Eve Watson,South West

News image — The dental practice opened on Monday and is set to operate five days a week

BBC A person wearing a mask with their hair tied back has gloves on and is performing dentistry on a patient. The patient is lying down. There are two people watching over the procedure wearing clinical outfits. — The dental practice opened on Monday and is set to operate five days a week

A new multimillion-pound dental clinic, the Dental Education Practice, has opened in Plymouth.

A spokesperson for the University of Plymouth, which is running the clinic, said the £5m facility would offer up to 12,000 NHS dental appointments a year for urgent treatment and follow up care.

Students from the University of Plymouth's Peninsula Dental School will work alongside specialists to provide care to patients who do not have an NHS dentist.

Jason Wong MBE, chief dental officer for England, said it was a "really positive step for Plymouth".

Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise - a subsidiary of the University of Plymouth - has taken a 20-year lease on Plymouth City Council's former First Stop Shop in New George Street.

The GP Patient Survey in 2024 found about one in four patients who tried to see an NHS dentist in the past two years in England were unable to do so.

Magda Farrant, one of the first patients in the new practice after it opened on Monday, said: "The days of being able to have two NHS check ups a year just don't happen now, so to have something as accessible as this is amazing.

"The students have been wonderful too, and I'm really pleased to be able to support their education."

University of Plymouth Ellie has her hair tied back and is wearing a blue top with a lanyard which is also blue. She has her arm over a blue chair and is smiling. She is in a dental room. — Ellie Orum said it was a great place to build up your skills and become more confident and competent

Ellie Orum, who has recently qualified as a dentist, works at the practice as part of her foundation training.

Orum, originally from Plymouth, said: "I think it's great, it's well supported.

"There's lots of specialists around so if you're ever stuck and need help with something there's always someone on hand."

She added: "Even though I'm qualified everyone's still learning and I think this is a great place to build up on your skills and get more confident and competent."

Listen to the latest news for Devon

Councillor Mary Aspinall, Plymouth City Council's cabinet member for health and adult social care, said it was a "huge step in the right direction".

"This new facility will enable trainee dentists to get hands-on experience right in the heart of the city centre and will hopefully encourage them to join the NHS once they have finished their course," she said.

The centre is partly funded by the NHS, but patients could face some costs if they need certain clinical care - although if they see a student dentist it will be free.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.