22 June 2007

Big smiles from graduating dental hygienists and therapists

The first students to complete Scotland’s only degree programme for dental hygienists and therapists will graduate from the University of Dundee this morning (Friday June 22nd).

The BSc in Oral Health Sciences has been designed to help meet the demand for dental care provision in the UK, where there is a current shortage of staff in many sectors.

Seven students form the first cohort of graduates from the course - Nikki Desmond, Rachel Duddin,Thomas Green, Kathleen Heaslip, Deepak Simkhada, Kerry Sjoberg and Debbie Wardlaw.

Course director Dr Ann Shearer, of University of Dundee Dental School, said the course would go some way to meeting the demand for new talent in the dental healthcare system.

"There is a current shortage of dental care provision within the UK and it is hoped that this course, and similar courses elsewhere in the UK, will help address the demand for dental treatment," said Dr Shearer.

"The course is the only degree programme in Scotland for dental hygienists and therapists, and our graduates will bring much needed skills and talent into the system."

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head,Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk