Real patients for dental students

Peninsula students will complete four years of training before qualifying

Students from the Peninsula Dental School have begun treating real patients for the first time.

The 62 students began training seven months ago in Plymouth at the UK's first new dental school for 40 years.

Until now, laboratory dummy heads have been used to allow the students to practise on.

But now they can examine volunteer patients under expert supervision at the dental education clinic in Exeter's Heavitree Hospital.

Eventually students will be able to provide patients with X-rays, dental health advice, scale and polish, diagnosis, examinations and temporary fillings at clinics in Plymouth, Exeter and Truro in Cornwall.

It was very smooth - I quite enjoyed it Bill Ridgeway, volunteer patient

Student Satwinder Hira said working on real patients had been an experience.

"It is nerve-wracking doing it on real people because you can cause them damage," he told BBC News.

"But it's also rewarding because you know you've made a difference."

Volunteer patient Bill Ridgeway, who has been unable to find an NHS dentist, said he hoped many of the students would remain in the region when they complete their four years of training.

Mr Ridgeway, a pensioner from East Budleigh, said he was happy with the treatment he received from Mr Hira.

"There were no problems and it was very smooth - I quite enjoyed it," Mr Ridgeway said.

The Peninsula Dental School is a partnership between the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth and the NHS in Devon and Cornwall.