Newcastle’s 125-year history of dentistry education, treatment and research has an exciting future with the launch of new multi-million pound facilities.
Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle University have worked in partnership to open new dental clinical simulation facilities.
The £5.5m facilities, funded by Newcastle University and the Office For Students, are set to transform the learning and experience of students, dental clinicians and patients.
The new facilities will also allow students to train with cutting-edge equipment to keep them up to date with the latest technology in their field.
Students will benefit from enhancements in audio visual equipment, with the ability for patient treatments to be streamed live from a demonstration dental surgery into their seminar room.
History of excellence
Each year, around 30,000 patients are treated by Newcastle University students at the trust’s Dental Hospital, based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and clinics in the city’s Arthur’s Hill, Byker and Kenton.
Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of Newcastle Hospitals, said: “Newcastle Dental Hospital has a long-standing history of excellence in patient care, education, and training, along with a global reputation for research that positively impacts oral health.
“These modern facilities will help to train the next generation of dentists in the latest techniques and treatments, which will greatly benefit our patients.
“This project is thanks to a well-established partnership between Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle University’s School of Dental Sciences. My thanks go to everyone involved in making this possible and providing the best care to our patients.”
Expertise and professionalism
Professor Chris Day, vice chancellor and president of Newcastle University, said: “The equipment and technology that has been installed is at the cutting edge of dental science and we are excited to start using the new unit.
“Combined with the expertise and professionalism of our NHS dental technicians, nurses and clinical colleagues, these facilities will contribute significantly to current and future generations of dental students and the patients they go on to treat.
“We are very fortunate to work closely with Newcastle Hospitals as our partnership brings benefits not only to education and research but also, critically, for the services we provide to patients from across the North of England and beyond.”
In addition to training, student volunteers work with local schools and community groups to provide important oral health and dietary advice as part of the Brush Up scheme.
Professor Chris Vernazza, interim head of School of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University and honorary consultant in paediatric dentistry, said: “I’m delighted at the opening of the Dental Clinical Simulation Facilities, which will allow our students to train with the best equipment to prepare them for their careers.
“The unit enables us to offer new and more flexible education opportunities in oral health for the benefit of patients.
“We are particularly proud of the new digital equipment, including operating microscopes, mouth scanners and 3D printing that mean our graduates are well equipped for the future of oral health care.”
Excellence in patient care, education and training
Dr Simon Stone, senior clinical lecturer and honorary consultant in endodontics, who led the project, said: “Like many professions, dentistry is making more and more use of digital technologies.
“We have created a place where technology allows students to observe live dental surgeries remotely. They can practice dental procedures on digital and physical simulators, and they can also work with digital manufacturing techniques to make dental restorations such as crowns, veneers and bridges.
“Everybody involved in this project has worked together to not only deliver these new facilities on time, and on budget, but also to complete the work without disrupting the other dental clinics and laboratories in the building.”
The project was completed by Robertson Construction with GSS Architecture and Identity Consult, under the guidance of Newcastle University and the Newcastle Hospitals estates teams.
