Teesside University has a brand new £17 million health and sport science building that includes a magnificent dental training suite complete with 18 dental chairs and phantom heads, as well as its own dental practice for students, staff and the general public.

Erica Clough, Principal Lecturer in Dental Care at Teesside University, with HRH Princess Anne at the official opening of the Centuria South building

The new building, known as Centuria South, is on the Middlesbrough-based university campus and was officially opened by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, in October last year.

The new development has already welcomed its first cohort of dental nursing and dental hygiene and therapy students. Dental training is a new area for the university's rapidly growing School of Health & Social Care.

According to Professor Paul Keane OBE, Dean of the School of Health & Social Care, the university was approached three years ago by the local PCTs to consider working with them in accrediting programmes in the field of dental practice. This led to a joint approach to the new Strategic Health Authority (SHA) to incorporate a dental practice and dental education in the new building. The dental practice, which was due to open just before Christmas, has received funding support from the North East SHA.

Erica Clough, Principal Lecturer in Dental Care, said: 'The facilities here are the best I've seen for students to work on. It's a wonderful environment for the students.'

The current portfolio includes a postgraduate dental advisors course and will expand to include a dental technology programme.