PLYMOUTH, May 13, 2025 — A new dental clinic is set to open in Plymouth, offering free urgent care to patients who are unable to access an NHS dentist. The initiative will be led by final-year dental students from the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Dental School, working under the guidance of qualified dental professionals.
The clinic will offer same-day appointments to individuals experiencing dental pain, infections, or trauma. It aims to help address the growing demand for emergency dental services in the region.
Professor Robert Witton, Chief Executive of Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise and Professor of Community Dentistry at the university, said the new facility will help fill a significant gap in care.
“There are large numbers of people waiting to access dental care in Plymouth and the surrounding area,” he said. “This clinic will go some way to addressing some of that need.”
The Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, a subsidiary of the university, has signed a 20-year lease on the former First Stop Shop building on New George Street, owned by Plymouth City Council. Pending planning approval, the site will be transformed into a £5 million state-of-the-art dental facility.
Professor Ewen McColl, Head of the Peninsula Dental School, described the future clinic as a realistic training environment for students.
“It will be like a practice on the High Street,” he explained. “The new setup will resemble a standard dental clinic with individual treatment rooms, making it ideal for both student education and public service delivery.”
He added that the experience will better prepare students for professional practice.
“It will allow students to provide urgent care, which is becoming an increasingly important part of dental therapy.”
Second-year dental students have also expressed their enthusiasm.
“As much as it is nerve-wracking, it’s also so exciting. It’s what we got into this profession for,” said Phoebe Kinsella.
Rohan Patel, another second-year student, added, “Since year one, we’ve been working in clinics. Patients are in safe hands. If we weren’t capable, our supervisors wouldn’t allow it.”
The clinic is expected to begin seeing patients by December.
