A new £2million dental education centre has opened in London in a joint enterprise between London Deanery and King's College London .
The facility, based in the Waterloo Campus of the university, aims to improve clinical standards and training in modern approaches to the delivery of dental and oral health care in London .
It will also improve clinical leadership among dental professionals through continuous personal and professional development.
The London Dental Education Centre (LonDEC) was officially opened by Professor Ann Keen MP in the company of Chief Dental Officer Barry Cockcroft.
The centre comprises a comprehensive training suite, including a state-of-the-art dental skills training room, and a fully equipped dental surgery .
Professor Nairn Wilson, dean and head of the Dental Institute at King's College, said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with London Deanery to create a state-of-the-art education centre to enhance hands-on training and related continuing professional development for all members of the dental team."
"It is hoped that LonDEC will be a platform on which to develop and build innovations in lifelong learning of immediate practical relevance to the clinical practice of dentistry ."
Elizabeth Jones, dean of postgraduate dentistry, added: "This is a very exciting initiative for London and I am delighted that it has come to fruition."
"It will give dentists and dental care professionals a state-of-the-art environment in which to learn new skills and to practise what to do in emergency situations."
"Dentists and dental team members will also be able to learn together in the key areas of decontamination and cross infection control which will ultimately improve patient safety."
LonDEC will be available as an education and training facility for lecture and practical training, and will also be the centre for some of the Masters degree courses run by the King's College London Dental Institute .
