A state-of-the-art dental centre and training facility, with a budget of £5.8 million, is set to be established in east London.
Located in Barking, the centre aims to deliver NHS dental services to over 5,000 patients each year, alongside the annual training of 130 new dental professionals.
The hub, scheduled to commence operations in September 2026, is a collaboration between Barking and Dagenham Council and Queen Mary University of London, both of which are financially backing the initiative.
Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, Vice Principal for Health at Queen Mary, highlighted that this development offers a “once-in-a-lifetime chance to enhance oral health and overall wellbeing for the residents of Barking and Dagenham.”
Council leader Dominic Twomey noted the ongoing challenges of attracting dentists to the region, stating it has always been “under-dentisted.”
The Labour councillor emphasized that the new centre would “provide high-quality dental care for thousands of our residents who currently lack access.”
“It will benefit not just east London but potentially the entire country, as graduates from this centre will go on to practice nationwide, contributing to solutions for dental shortages,” he said.
NHS statistics reveal that in Barking, 65% of children aged three to five and nearly 80% of adults aged 18 to 34 lack access to NHS dental care; furthermore, two in five children experience tooth decay.
Healthcare professionals have found “substantial evidence” linking oral health to overall health, particularly concerning issues like obesity, smoking, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
Farida Fortune, a professor of medicine related to oral health at Queen Mary, remarked that “if oral health is compromised, overall health declines.”
She indicated that by placing dental professionals in the local community through this centre, it becomes possible to educate residents about both dental and general health.
The centre will occupy two floors of Maritime House, situated in Barking town centre, and is primarily financed through the council’s Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy funding program.
Queen Mary University’s undergraduate and postgraduate students will provide care under a community outreach model from this location.
Additionally, the initiative is expected to generate approximately 44 local jobs, encompassing roles in security, cleaning, and dental nursing, according to project leaders.
Professor Caulfield stated, “By integrating top-tier dental education within the community, we are dismantling long-standing barriers to access and ensuring that those in greatest need can receive free care near their homes.”
