Keeping dental graduates in the South West of England was “absolutely key” to tackling the region’s shortage of dentists, health bosses have said.
Prof Zoe Brookes, from Peninsula Dental School at the University of Plymouth, said the South West did not have enough dental specialists “across the board”.
In December, Healthwatch England said a lack of NHS dentistry was a particular problem in Devon.
The University of Plymouth trains 58 dental students each year.
Prof Brookes said: “We’ve got a big shortage of dentists here in the South West… Getting students graduating from the dental school here in Plymouth and keeping them in the South West is absolutely key.”