This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New dental institute in Aberdeen
06/11/2006
The new £4 million Aberdeen Dental Institute was officially opened today at the city's Royal Infirmary.
It will house:
- a dental practice with four surgeries able to register patients and deliver emergency treatment
- an outreach centre where final year students from Dundee Dental School will develop clinical skills and treat patients under supervision;
- Aberdeen Dental Education Centre, which will offer professional training for practising dentists and a wide range of other dental workers
Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"The opening of the Aberdeen Dental Institute fulfils a long-term commitment and is another important part of our efforts to widen access to NHS dentistry.
"The new dentists at the Institute are expected to provide NHS dental services to 4,000-6,000 patients in the first twelve months. NHS Grampian anticipate around 4000 new registrations over the first two years. On top of that, the centre will also provide in-hours emergency treatment to thousands more people who are currently having problems accessing a dentist.
"This is good news for the North East, and I'm delighted that the Board is already considering expanding the service within the Institute.
"On top of that, the outreach centre will also provide better training to dental students who will learn to treat a much wider range of patients than ever before - all in first class facilities. With students spending more time in Aberdeen more of them will be encouraged to continue working in the North East.
"Finally, with the opening of the Dental Education Centre, I fully expect Aberdeen to become a centre of excellence when it comes to the training and development of dental professionals. Combined with the other facilities at the Institute, this is a significant development for Scottish dentistry."
The Institute's Argyll Dental Practice will host four surgeries for NHS treatment to be run by salaried dentists. These dentists will register NHS patients from the NHS Grampian waiting list.
The Outreach Centre offers space for eight students to carry out dental services under supervision at any one time. Every final year undergraduate from Dundee Dental School will go through four one-week training blocks.
Aberdeen Dental Education Centre (ADEC) will be operated by NHS Education for Scotland. ADEC will provide pre and post-qualification dental nurse training, education and training for other dental care professionals such as therapists, hygienists and receptionists, Dental Vocational training and CPD courses for dentists.
As part of a £30 million development programme 'teach and treat' centres are currently being developed in Kilmarnock, Dumfries, Coatbridge, Perth, Falkirk, Inverness and Fife.