Campaign pushes for community-based dental school in Lincolnshire
UK workforce development: Lincoln dental school campaign addresses rural training gaps and retention challenges.
The University of Lincoln has launched the Strong Roots for Oral Health campaign, calling for a new dental school in Lincolnshire to address unmet dental needs in underserved areas. The campaign argues that training dentists in communities that need them most could improve retention and access to affordable dental care in rural and coastal Britain.
Why community-based dental training matters
Lincolnshire currently has no dental school, yet the east of England reports dental needs significantly above the UK average. In Boston, 40% of five-year-olds show signs of tooth decay compared to the national average of 27%. Jason Wong, chief dental officer for England, stated that research shows training in high-need locations attracts professionals to those areas. Peninsula Dental School head Ewen McColl described the 'symbiosis' achieved through community-based training: trainees benefit from complex cases, while patients who lack access to care receive stabilisation and pain relief. A new Dental Education Practice opened in Plymouth in February, combining student training with urgent care for local residents.
Building on existing progress in Lincoln
The University of Lincoln established the Lincolnshire Institute for Dental and Oral Health (LIDOH) in March 2026. The centre will train 30 dental hygiene and therapy students annually starting September 2026, with plans to expand to a full dental degree programme. However, postgraduate dental dean James Spencer noted that undergraduate training alone is insufficient. Retention remains a challenge, with a 2023 study identifying limited progression opportunities in NHS dentistry, financial concerns, stress, and burnout as major barriers. Spencer stated the government is focusing on areas of concern from 2025 onwards, suggesting specialist training posts in underserved areas as a potential retention measure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Strong Roots for Oral Health campaign?
It is a campaign led by the University of Lincoln calling for a new community-based dental school in Lincolnshire. The campaign proposes integrating education, research, and clinical practice to train more dental professionals and increase access to affordable dental care in underserved areas.
Why does Lincolnshire need a dental school?
Lincolnshire currently has no dental school, yet the east of England has unmet dental needs well above the UK average. For example, 40% of five-year-olds in Boston show signs of tooth decay compared to the national average of 27%. Training dentists locally is expected to improve retention in the region.
Does community-based dental training improve retention?
Research cited by Jason Wong, chief dental officer for England, suggests that training in high-need locations attracts professionals to work in those areas. Peninsula Dental School demonstrated this through its Dental Education Practice in Plymouth, which opened in February 2026 and combines student training with urgent care for local residents.
What progress has Lincoln made toward a dental school?
The University of Lincoln established the Lincolnshire Institute for Dental and Oral Health (LIDOH) in March 2026. The centre will train 30 dental hygiene and therapy students annually from September 2026, with plans to expand to a full dental degree programme through the Strong Roots campaign.
Is undergraduate training enough to fix dental access gaps?
No. Postgraduate dental dean James Spencer stated that undergraduate provision must be balanced with measures to increase NHS workforce retention. A 2023 study found limited progression opportunities and financial concerns in NHS dentistry were major barriers, suggesting specialist training posts in underserved areas could help.
