Introduction

A new £1.2 million dental sedation unit, capable of treating 3,000 patients a year, has opened at Newcastle Dental Hospital and School of Dental Sciences.

New referrals for intravenous sedation have increased by 25 per cent in the last two years in Newcastle. As well as providing treatment, the unit will provide hands-on training for undergraduates and postgraduates undergoing Newcastle University's diploma in conscious sedation.

Opened by England's Chief Dental Officer Barry Cockcroft (second from left), the unit comprises five sedation surgeries, two pre-assessment rooms and a four bay recovery area. Pictured at the opening ceremony are, left to right, Robin Seymour, Dean of Dentistry, Nick Girdler, Professor of Sedation Dentistry, and Clinical Director David Jacobs.