Dental Academy
The Dental Academy is a modern, primary-care based school that trains General Dental Council-registered and qualified dental care professionals, and offers comprehensive oral and dental healthcare to the public.
We offer three degree-based programmes – in Advanced Dental Nursing, Dental Hygiene and Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy – and there is a strong emphasis on team training within the Dental Academy.
Students train in practice teams using modern clinical facilities that replicate those found in real NHS dental practices. Our evidence-based approach to education is further enhanced by our involvement with various areas of research.
We've received an Athena Swan Bronze award for our commitment to gender equality in the dental profession. The Dental Academy is supported through our partnership with the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences at King's College London, whose dental students are also trained within our school.
Teaching
There is an emphasis on practical teaching within the Dental Academy, and our students start treating patients – under the close supervision of qualified staff – early in their studies. Our students start on simulation models known as 'phantom heads', before putting their learning into action with real patients.
Our live teaching clinics have treatment bays replicating the set-up of a dental surgery, and students work together in small teams to replicate the conditions of general dental practices – giving them valuable experience in building intra-professional working relationships. Our students also spend time on placements, observing dentistry in a variety of settings.
We support our students through a personal tutor system and use an app-based longitudinal assessment method to track students clinical progress and provide continuous feedback. In 2018 we achieved a 95% overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey with 100% of our graduates placed in either further education or work within 6 months.
We also offer a variety of dental short courses and continuing professional development (CPD) courses – including (but not limited to) minor oral surgery, laser use in dentistry and various implant dentistry courses.
Our teaching areas
Outreach
The Dental Academy delivers outreach activities, including offering free dental health services to the public, during which our dental nurse, dental hygienist and dental therapist students gain valuable professional experience.
Our preventative and educational work in the community also gives students a better understanding of the social impact of good dental care – with our students regularly involved with clinics at schools and hostels for the homeless.
Learn more about our patient services and GDP referrals.
Research
Our research is focused on delivering evidence-based health care to our patients and the community, and on improving the quality of dental education.
Our global team of postgraduate researchers, research associates and research clinicians are working on areas such as children's oral health, dental care for new and expecting mothers, oral health within the older community, and community outreach dental activities.
We also offer MPhil, PhD and PhD by Publication programmes – to find out more, visit our Dental & Oral Health postgraduate research degrees page.
Our areas of expertise
Explore the work we're doing across our areas of expertise in Dental & Oral Health research.
Recent projects include
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Pilot HEYA oral health programme
A pilot programme for children, which focused on improving tooth brushing skills, increasing the number of children using fluoride toothpaste in the Early Years setting (in addition to tooth brushing at home), raising awareness of good oral health practice with parents/carers and children, and improving sign-posting to dental services.
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Developing an oral health promotional video for deprived families in Portsmouth
A programme aimed at improving the dental and oral health of deprived families, in partnership with Portsmouth City Council.
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An ongoing pilot study led by Dr Kristina Wanyonyi.
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Using Virtual Reality (VR) to improve preventative dental practice for increasingly frail patients
A pilot study with dental professionals, led by Dr Kristina Wanyonyi.
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Tooth friendly snacking in early years settings
A project, led by Dr Kristina Wanyonyi, funded by Solent NHS Trust.
Our staff
Professor Chris Louca
- Job Title Director of the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy
- Email Address chris.louca@port.ac.uk
- Department Dental Academy
- Faculty Faculty of Science and Health
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor
Mrs Leanna Wynne
- Job Title Associate Head of (Education)
- Email Address Leanna.Wynne@port.ac.uk
- Department Dental Academy
- Faculty Faculty of Science and Health
Mrs Sarah Barber
- Job Title Associate Head (Innovation)
- Email Address sarah.barber@port.ac.uk
- Department Dental Academy
- Faculty Faculty of Science and Health
Explore our faculty
Explore the other Schools and Departments that make up our Faculty of Science and Health.
Contact us
To get in touch, please contact our Faculty office.