Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise (PDSE) is celebrating another successful year of supporting the University of Plymouth’s undergraduate dental programmes through high-quality clinical training and patient care experience.

During 2025/26, PDSE supported 436 undergraduate students (350 dental surgery students and 86 dental hygiene therapy students), providing valuable clinical experience and educational opportunities within a real-world healthcare setting. Working alongside experienced clinicians, supervisors, dental nurses, and support staff, students developed the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to progress into professional practice.

This year also saw the successful graduation of all 76 final-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students and 27 of 28 final-year Dental Therapy and Hygiene (DTH) students. Their achievements reflect not only their hard work and dedication but also the collaborative learning environment that supports students throughout their academic journey.

Student feedback continues to demonstrate the positive impact of the learning experience offered through PDSE. In the National Student Survey (NSS), the dental programmes achieved very strong results. The BDS course scored its highest scores ever with 100% overall satisfaction and 98.8% for learning opportunities which includes clinics. These extremely high NSS scores were all the more remarkable given this was the largest ever cohort of BDS students in the school’s history.

These outcomes highlight the quality of teaching, clinical supervision, learning resources, and student support available throughout the programmes and demonstrate the impact of the clinical training experience delivered via PDSE. Hear from our 2025/26 final-year students here.

A significant development this year was the introduction of the University of Plymouth and PDSE’s Dental Education Practice (DEP) for final-year students.

Designed to simulate a high street dental practice within an accessible city-centre location, the facility offers a fundamentally different teaching experience from a traditional large teaching clinic. Students under supervision are able to work alongside specialists, experienced clinicians, and Dental Foundation trainees, broadening their experience across a wide range of clinical disciplines and gaining exposure to the collaborative nature of contemporary dental care. The practice allows the final-year students to work in an environment more akin to a busy practice, which should support students transition to the workplace.

Another key development in 2025/26 was the introduction of digital dentistry across PDSE’s clinical teaching environments. Digital workflows are now embedded within the undergraduate curriculum, ensuring students develop the digital competencies required for modern dental practice.

Eight intraoral scanners are currently in use in the Derriford and Truro facilities, with a further five due to be introduced across all sites. The technology improves patient comfort by replacing traditional impression materials with highly accurate digital scans, while enhancing clinical efficiency, communication with laboratories, and sustainability.

A BDS student commented: “It has been fantastic to be able to use this equipment on clinic, helping us to embrace the technological advances in dentistry, that are an exciting prospect for both patients and the profession.”

Reflecting on the year, Professor Ewen McColl, Head of the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Dental School and Chair of Dental Schools Council, commented:

“It has been an incredible one team effort across the Dental School and PDSE in supporting the largest graduating cohort of BDS students in our history whilst maintaining outstanding National Student Survey scores. The range of clinical experience our students gain in our world class PDSE clinics is second to none, all at the same time as contributing to the communities we serve. The student’s commitment to learning and patient care has been outstanding, and initiatives such as the Dental Education Practice and digital dentistry have provided valuable opportunities to broaden this experience. I am extremely grateful to staff at every level of the organisation in the support they offer students and patients, and feel safe in the knowledge that the future of the profession is in very capable hands as our students move into the workplace, fully equipped to excel.”

As we celebrate the achievements of our students and graduates, we look forward to building on the successes of 2025/26 Through continued innovation, excellent clinical teaching, and strong partnerships, PDSE remains committed to supporting the next generation of dental professionals and contributing to the future dental workforce.

We congratulate all students who completed their studies in 2025/26 and wish them every success in their future careers.