Dental Asia January/February 2024

How to future-proof a
dental school
Dental schools globally are faced with a constant need to assess the technology
and equipment used to equip students with relevant skills in an ever-evolving
industry. Providing fully digital and customisable solutions for the varying needs
of over 300 dental schools, manufacturers like Planmeca play a crucial part in
supporting the design and build of these education spaces.
When it comes to designing spaces where
the next generation of dentists is trained, it
is not as simple as plugging and fitting the
most modern technology but ensuring the
investments made equip students with the
skills to navigate the foreseeable future.
Universities with dental faculties like the
University of Hong Kong (HKU) has witnessed
the struggle with keeping up with the fast
technological change in dentistry. Likewise,
for the University of British Columbia (UBC), it
is important to find a solution that is not only
durable but also looks great year after year,
since resources for continuously upgrading
the facilities are often limited.
At the crux of this struggle is director of aftersales
and university projects for Planmeca,
Jussi Ylisaari where he helps dental schools
navigate the constant battle for needs and the
advancements that industry has to offer.
“It all starts with a dialogue with the dental
school. We want to learn the school’s specific
needs and visions. How do they teach? What
exact factors are relevant to them? Once we
understand these aspects, we can tell them
how Planmeca’s dental school solutions can
improve their unique environment,” Jussi
Ylisaari told Dental Asia. “It is an ongoing
dialogue, but our focus is always on adapting
to the school’s needs. They are the educational
experts. Our job is to make sure that our
technologies and implementations optimally
support the school and the valuable work done
there,” Ylisaari commented.
DURABILITY IN FUNCTION AND STYLE
In 2022, the UBC Faculty of Dentistry upgraded
the 144 dental care units in their Nobel Biocare
Oral Health Centre (OHC) dental clinic and
opened a new simulation laboratory. The main
goals for these projects were to enhance
the learning environment, facilitate patient
care and ensure the students will continue
to receive the best possible educational
experience over the next decade.
“We like to train competent general dentists
that are also critical thinkers. This way, as
new technologies and methodologies are
applied to dentistry, our students will be able
to assess those and incorporate them in their
private practices,” said Dr Mary MacDougall,
professor and dean of the Faculty of Dentistry
at the UBC at the time of the investment.
The Faculty of Dentistry at UBC hosts around
500 students across their degree and postgraduate
programmes, receiving 550-650
applications for the DMD programme, among
which 65 applicants are accepted. Dental
education revolves around the student as a
learner and according to Dr MacDougall, this
is accomplished by offering the students the
necessary means for the training.
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