Dental patients in Lancashire are being offered half-price tooth extraction as postgraduate dentistry students help reduce long waiting lists for complex care.
Students at the University of Lancashire are providing wisdom tooth removal and complex tooth or root extractions for £35 per tooth at the university’s dental clinic on the Preston Campus.
The trainees are all fully qualified dentists who are completing postgraduate training to build their experience in advanced oral surgery.
Professor Kate Taylor, an oral surgery specialist at the university, said demand for treatment was extremely high, with more than 4,000 patients in Lancashire currently waiting to be seen.
She said the community dental clinic accepts patients who have been referred for specialist treatment and are facing long delays elsewhere.
“This is a win-win situation,” Professor Taylor said. “Patients receive low-cost care for complex procedures, while qualified dentists gain valuable experience using advanced facilities under specialist supervision.”
All procedures are carried out under local anaesthetic at the university clinic.
Under NHS England pricing, wisdom tooth surgery or routine extractions typically cost £75.30 per course of treatment, making the student-led service significantly cheaper for eligible patients.
