The University of Lincoln has received £1.5 million in funding to launch a dental hygiene and therapy training centre starting in 2026.
The new facility, named the Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health, will enroll about 30 students in its first year.
The funding will be used to upgrade existing university spaces into specialized clinical teaching areas equipped with the latest digital and simulation technology.
The institute will offer a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene and therapy. It will also provide a foundation course aimed at enhancing the skills of dental nurses and other healthcare workers.
Access to NHS dental care in Lincolnshire is currently among the lowest in the UK, highlighting the region’s need for more dental professionals.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, expressed hope that the new centre will lead to expanded education opportunities in dentistry. “The long-term goal is for the university to eventually establish a full dental school to address the shortage of dentists,” she said.
Professor Neal Juster, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, welcomed the grant. “This funding supports the creation of the Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health,” he said. “We have a strong history of local organizations working together to meet community needs, fill skills gaps, support growth, improve services, and create educational and career opportunities.”
Professor Juster thanked the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority and local partners for their support in making this project possible. He added that it will benefit people throughout the region.
