The Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock MP, officially opened Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise’s (PDSE) Dental Education Practice in Plymouth on Monday, June 29, 2026. This new practice is a partnership that aims to improve access to urgent NHS dental care. It also helps train the next generation of dental professionals.
The Minister met with staff from PDSE, members of the Dental Task Force from Plymouth City Council, and dental students.
A New Model for Dental Care and Education
The practice began seeing patients on February 9, 2026. By the end of May, it had provided 2,756 dental appointments to 1,585 patients. This included urgent care for issues like pain, infection, and trauma, referred through NHS 111.
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Start Your News DetoxPDSE runs the Dental Education Practice with the University of Plymouth. It addresses the growing need for urgent dental care. It also gives hands-on experience to future dental professionals.
The practice brings together dental students, Foundation Dentists, qualified Dental Therapists, Dentists, and skilled Dental Nurses. They all work together in a supervised, patient-focused setting. This team approach ensures patients get good treatment. It also helps students and trainees build confidence and skills for their careers.
The facility is in the city center and looks like a real dental practice. This offers a different teaching experience than a large traditional clinic. Students work with specialists and qualified clinicians. This broadens their experience across many dental areas. It also exposes them to how modern dental care works collaboratively. This approach leads to excellent patient outcomes and strong educational development. It shows PDSE's commitment to combining good primary dental care with high-quality training for students.
Robert Witton, CEO of Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, noted the practice's quick success. He said it shows that improving NHS dental access and creating a great learning environment is possible.
Professor Ewen McColl, Head of the University’s Peninsula Dental School, added that the practice is a big step forward in dental education. He explained that students gain valuable experience in a modern primary care setting. They work with specialists and multidisciplinary teams. This helps them care for patients with many different dental needs.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock praised the facility. He said it would provide 12,000 NHS dental appointments each year. He also enjoyed meeting the students, calling them "the future of NHS dentistry."
The practice has received positive feedback from patients. One patient shared that the team was very understanding and supportive during a difficult extraction.
The facility's design has also been recognized. It was shortlisted for the Education Project of the Year at the 2026 Michelmore Property Awards.
This practice is an important investment in patient care and the future dental workforce. It combines high-quality NHS dental services with innovative education. This helps improve access to care in the South West. It also gives future clinicians the experience and skills they need.
