BARKING, England: Queen Mary University of London, in partnership with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council, will open a cutting-edge dental training centre in central Barking in September 2026. The facility will train future dentists and help fill vacant National Health Service (NHS) positions. It also aims to improve oral and overall health for residents of the borough and the surrounding area.
The new centre will play a key role in addressing the shortage of NHS dentists.
England is currently facing a serious shortage of dentists and dental appointments. Data shows that more than 3,000 NHS dentist positions are vacant across the UK. In addition, 4,079 NHS dentists are expected to retire within the next five years.
Access to NHS dental services is especially limited in East London. In Barking and Dagenham, 65% of children aged 3–5 and nearly 80% of adults aged 18–34 do not currently have access to NHS dental care. Around 40% of children in the borough have dental caries. Experts warn that poor oral health can affect overall health, making improved access to care vital.
The project has secured £4.1 million (€4.6 million) in funding from the Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy programme. The centre will train 130 Queen Mary dental students each year. It is expected to provide NHS dental services to more than 5,000 patients annually. This will be the fifth student-led, community-based dental clinic run by Queen Mary to support local communities.
Prof. Sir Mark Caulfield, vice-principal for health at Queen Mary’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, said in a university press release: “Queen Mary’s new dental training facility at Maritime House is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform oral health and overall well-being for residents of Barking and Dagenham. By bringing world-class dental education directly into the community, we are removing barriers to care and ensuring that those who need it most can receive treatment free of charge, close to home.”
Prof. Colin Bailey, CBE, president and principal of Queen Mary, added: “For 240 years, Queen Mary has worked to reduce inequalities and improve lives in East London and beyond. This initiative will help train urgently needed dentists and reduce dental inequalities across the UK.”
The centre is part of a long-term partnership between Queen Mary and Barking and Dagenham Council. The collaboration is formalised in a ten-year memorandum of understanding managed by the university’s SHAPE Institute for Health. It supports the borough’s participation in the NHS National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme. The partnership aims to reduce health inequalities, create local jobs, and promote research and education in the community.
Council leader Dominic Twomey said the investment will bring a world-class health facility to the borough at a time when dental care access has become a “postcode lottery.” He added that expanding Queen Mary’s Institute of Dentistry will also deliver wider economic benefits, including job creation and positioning Barking and Dagenham as a national hub for dental training.