A clinical dental simulation unit has been added to the training facilities at Newcastle University’s School of Dental Science.
The £5.5 million unit features traditional dental simulation with new phantom heads, and a postgraduate suite with operating microscopes. It also provides enhanced training in prosthodontics and includes an X-ray department.
Interim head of the School of Dental Sciences Professor Chris Vernazza 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 healthcare.’
Digital methods
The new unit’s approach to training dentists has been described as ‘increasingly digital’. Improvements to audiovisual equipment will allow patient treatments to be streamed live from a demonstration dental surgery into seminar rooms.
Senior clinical lecturer and honorary consultant in endodontics Dr Simon Stone lead the project to develop the facilities. He 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.’
‘A long-standing history of excellence in patient care, education, and training’
The School of Dental Science works in collaboration with the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust. The partnership provides care to around 30,000 patients annually.
Professor Chris Day is vice chancellor and president of Newcastle University. He said: ‘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.’
Jim Mackey, chief executive of Newcastle hospitals, thanked all involved in the project. He 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.
‘This modern facility will help to train the next generation of dentists in the latest techniques and treatments, which will greatly benefit our patients.’
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