The University of Lincoln has officially launched the Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health (LIDOH), a major new initiative designed to strengthen the dental workforce and improve access to NHS dental care across the county.
The Institute, which received a £1.5 million investment from the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority in 2025 through the UK government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, was formally opened by Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, at a launch event attended by NHS leaders, dental professionals, and regional partners.
Lincolnshire faces some of the most significant challenges in England around access to NHS dentistry, particularly in rural and coastal communities. The East Midlands is one of the only regions in the country without a dental school.
From September 2026, LIDOH will begin delivering new training pathways, including a BSc in Dental Hygiene and Therapy and foundation routes enabling dental nurses and other professionals to retrain and upskill.
The Institute has been designed to support workforce retention in underserved areas and builds on the University’s established credentials in training healthcare professionals and tackling rural and coastal health inequalities.
Professor Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, said:“Lincolnshire has long faced serious challenges in access to NHS dentistry. The launch of the Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health marks a significant step in growing local capability and building a sustainable dental workforce for the future. “By working closely with regional partners, we are creating new pathways into dental careers and helping address health inequalities that disproportionately affect rural and coastal communities.”
“One of the first things I did as Mayor was to secure £1.5 million through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to make this Institute a reality. Today is a major milestone for dental education in our area, and it is a real honour to see it the facilities now open and already making a difference. “Lincolnshire deserves the best dental care, and this Institute will train our first students while supporting existing dental staff to upskill, strengthen children’s dentistry, and grow capacity where it’s needed most.”
The Institute includes purpose-built clinical simulation facilities and advanced training environments within the Lincoln Medical School.
The University has also outlined its longer-term ambition to evolve the Institute into a fully-fledged dental school, subject to national approval, and is working closely with partners to develop these plans.
The launch included demonstrations of clinical simulation technology and a showcase of the Institute’s facilities, alongside speeches from University academics and leaders, as well as partners, including Jason Wong, Chief Dental Officer for England.
If you would like to find out more about the BSc in Dental Hygiene and Therapy, you can register your interest here: www.lincoln.ac.uk/form/dd/dentistryregisteryourinterest
