A new centre dedicated to improving dental care and understanding of oral disease through world-class research is being opened at the Newcastle Dental Hospital and School of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University.

A collaboration between Newcastle University and The Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Hospitals Trust, the facility has four new dental surgeries and is supported by three research laboratories.

The state-of-the art facilities mean a full range of clinical dental research can be undertaken, including restorative dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, implant research, dental materials research, paediatric dentistry, local anaesthetic studies, fluoride therapy, nutritional research, and surgical procedures. In addition two of the surgeries are equipped with operating microscopes for advanced surgical and restorative procedures.

The development has been funded by the Trust and University with staff supported by the Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Comprehensive Local Research Network, grant income and commercial research projects.

'We can offer industry a responsive, high-quality facility and support research and clinical trials,' said Professor Philip Preshaw, the new director of the Dental Clinical Research Facility. 'The developments we will be making in this new centre will directly feed into the way patients are treated here and across the UK.'