3 weeks Ago By Damon Cronshaw
A new dentistry school and public dental clinic have been proposed at University of Newcastle campuses on the Central Coast. Login or signup to continue reading The 50-chair clinic could do up to 40,000 appointments a year, with accredited dentists supervising students. The school plans to train 30 students a year in a master of dentistry course.
University of Newcastle vice-chancellor Alex Zelinsky said it would be "the first dental school in NSW, north of Sydney Harbour". The school would be at Ourimbah and Gosford campuses "because we already have a substantial oral health program there". "It's been running for many years," Professor Zelinsky said.
"We know there's a real need for public dental and oral healthcare. There are long public waiting lists." The latest available data showed the waiting list on the Central Coast stood at more than 11,000.
In Hunter New England, this figure was more than 15,600. "The reason people are on those public waiting lists is they can't afford a dentist," Professor Zelinsky said. The university's program aimed to train more oral health and dental staff to help reduce the waiting list.
"We know a key part of the solution is to train more dentists. Central Coast Health is very supportive of this proposal." The latest data showed 1024 potentially preventable hospitalisations for dental conditions on the Central Coast in a year, a 49 per cent rise in a decade.
In Hunter New England, this figure stood at almost 3200. Professor Zelinsky said the program would be "available to anyone who wants to work in dentistry or oral health". This included people from a disadvantaged background, who could gain access through "enabling pathway programs".
"That prepares them for these degrees," he said. "Our university's mantra is there's a place for everyone." Students could do three years studying oral health therapy, six months of practice and then two and a half years in a master of dentistry course.
"We would start the program with up to 30 students in the first year. We'd need the federal government to provide those additional places each year," Professor Zelinsky said. "It's a bold vision.
With the support of the community and the next government, we can make it a reality." Central Coast mayor Lawrie McKinna said he "fully supports" the plan. "As our community continues to grow, so too does the demand for dental services," Mr McKinna said.
Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition. Email: [email protected].
au Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition. Email: [email protected].
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