The University of Bristol has opened a new £36 million Dental School at its Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. The school spans 7,300 square meters and will train dentists, hygienists and therapists, dental nurses, and the wider dental team. It will enable the university to increase the number of student places by around 25%. The facility includes 119 dental chairs across six clinical areas, where students will be supported by dental nurses, technicians, sterilization staff, and patient administration teams.

The university will continue to offer free dental treatment to the local community through undergraduate students under the supervision of qualified clinical dentists. This will double the daily availability of emergency dental appointments in the local area. The university has been working closely with Bristol City Council and local community groups during the planning of the project and has recruited various new roles at the Dental School.

The facility features public art created by Gav Strange, Director, and designer at Aardman, including sculptures and murals featuring bespoke characters called The Denticles. Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, said the new facilities marked a significant milestone in the university’s strategy to revolutionize dental education and make a positive impact on the local community.