Wales gains new Dental Unit

A new state-of-the-art dental unit has just opened in Porth, Wales, boasting some of the worlds most advanced dental technology. Initially, the unit functions as a training centre for dentists. For such purposes the unit contains cameras in one of its surgeries that feed back to a screen where dental members can study the procedures. The unit also contains an air conditioned conference centre that can seat up to 120 people as well as a specialised training centre that has 18 individual workstations, where the dentists can practice their skills on dummy models known as ‘phantom heads’.

After a two-year long training scheme, ten dentists will take residence in the unit, which will function as a fully working surgery. Supervising them will be an experienced team of dental surgeons. Using a surgical operating microscope, dentists will also be able to examine and treat root canal problems in a far more effective way than before, due to the detailed photographs of root canal systems that the microscope can produce.

The new dental unit is a result of funding from the Rhonda Cynon Taff Teaching Local Health Board, the Welsh Assembly Government and Cardiff University’s School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, the latter being key to the unit’s development.

Rhodri Morgan, First Minister, says that the unit will make a “significant difference” to both the quality of the dental service in the area, as well as the amount of patients that can be seen. Dental Programme Director Alan Griffiths notes that the unit will be of great benefit in terms of dental training as prospective dentists will have access to advanced “operating and learning tools” that will give them invaluable practical experience.

Friday 25th September 2009

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