The first purpose-built dental education facility in the UK for 30 years will be officially opened by Lord Colwyn.
The Peninsula Dental School Dental Education Clinic, in Devonport, will be formally launched on 19 June.
Lord Colwyn, deputy speaker of the House of Lords and vice chair of the House of Lords Dentistry Group, practised as a dentist from 1965 to 2005.
Primarily an NHS training clinic for dental students, the clinic opened its doors to patients on 28 April this year.
It has 40 dental chairs arranged in five bays of eight, plus three single-chair bays.
It also includes a laboratory where students will learn clinical skills for procedures such as casting models, adjusting dentures and making mouth guards, seminar rooms and an IT suite.
A range of dental care is available free of charge from dental students under the supervision of a qualified dental tutor.
Treatments and services include:
• Dental check-ups, oral examination and diagnosis including X-rays
• Advice for preventing tooth decay and gum disease including tooth brushing and oral hygiene instruction, dietary advice and the application of sealants that protect the surfaces of teeth
• Assessment and treatment of gum disease
• Fillings and extractions
The Dental Education Clinic is primarily an NHS training clinic for dental students.
A range of dental care is available free of charge from dental students under the supervision of a qualified dental tutor.
Initially, the Devonport Dental Education Clinic will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays during term time and will treat at least 128 patients each week.
The number of patients and frequency of clinics will increase from September as the Peninsula Dental School reaches full capacity over the four-year period of the dental course.
