A new dental clinic is set to open in Plymouth, providing free urgent care to patients who do not have access to an NHS dentist. This initiative, led by final-year dental students from the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Dental School, will offer same-day appointments for individuals experiencing pain, infection, or dental trauma.
The clinic, expected to begin operations by December, aims to ease the burden on the city’s overstretched dental services. Professor Robert Witton, Chief Executive of Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise and a professor of community dentistry at the university, emphasized the urgent need for such a facility. “There are large numbers of people waiting to access dental care in Plymouth and the surrounding area. This clinic will go some way in addressing some of that need,” he explained
The clinic will be housed in Plymouth City Council’s former First Stop Shop on New George Street, under a 20-year lease agreement. Pending planning approval, the space will be transformed into a modern £5 million practice, designed to simulate a real-world dental setting.
Professor Ewen McColl, Head of the Peninsula Dental School, highlighted the importance of the clinic in enhancing students’ education. “It will be like a practice on the High Street. The setup will be more in line with a typical dental practice, offering individual surgeries rather than the larger educational facilities we currently have,” he said. “This environment will better prepare our students for professional practice while allowing them to provide urgent care, which is becoming an essential aspect of dental therapy.”
Plymouth has faced significant challenges in dental care accessibility, with many residents struggling to secure appointments due to an ongoing shortage of NHS dentists. The introduction of this urgent care clinic is expected to serve as a temporary relief for those in need, particularly for those suffering from dental pain or emergencies.
Phoebe Kinsella, a second-year dental student at the university, expressed both excitement and nervousness about the opportunity. “As much as it is nerve-wracking, it’s also so exciting. This is what we got into this profession for,” she said.
Rohan Patel, another second-year student, reassured patients about the quality of care they would receive. “Since year one, we have been in clinics. Patients are in safe hands. If we weren’t able to do it, the supervisors would not let us,” he said.
Beyond providing essential care to those who need it most, the clinic will offer invaluable hands-on experience for dental students under the supervision of experienced professionals. This initiative reflects a growing trend in medical and dental education, where real-world training is prioritized to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice.
As Plymouth continues to struggle with access to dental care, the opening of this urgent clinic is a welcome development. For patients in need, it provides an opportunity to receive immediate relief, and for students, it offers the chance to develop their skills in a real-world setting. While it may not be a permanent solution to the broader issue of dental care accessibility, it is a crucial step in the right direction.
With the facility set to open by December, many residents of Plymouth will soon have a new option for urgent dental care, bringing much-needed relief to a community that has long awaited accessible treatment.
