The Institute of Odontology establishes university dental care together with Swedish Public Dental Service
COOPERATION. The Swedish Public Dental Service in Region Västra Götaland is establishing university dental care in cooperation with the University of Gothenburg’s Institute of Odontology. This decision will increase the attractiveness for employees, researchers, and dentistry students through systematic quality work.
“We are extremely proud and delighted that we in Gothenburg will be the first to offer quality-driven university dental care, following excellent and ambitious cooperation between the Swedish Public Dental Service and the Institute of Odontology,” says Agneta Holmäng, Dean of Sahlgrenska Academy.
Åsa Leonhardt is Head of Dental Care at the Swedish Public Dental Service in Region Västra Götaland:
“The dentistry education in Gothenburg already has an excellent reputation. With university dental care, we can systematically develop this further – and into the future.”
Unique in Sweden
The University of Gothenburg is one of two higher education institutions in Sweden that cooperates with the Swedish Public Dental Service via a dentistry education agreement in connection with clinical preparation and clinical training of dentistry students, and with clinical research.
“Our model of university dental care will be unique in the country,” says Åsa. “The Swedish Public Dental Service and the Institute of Odontology have cooperated since the early 1990s. This investment will enable us to be clearer and more focused in terms of working together to develop both dentistry education and research. We will now work on these issues in the same way as within university health care.”
The two training clinics for pediatric and adult dental care are designated as university dental care units, based on 15 criteria identified following extensive work. Peter Lingström, Head of the Institute of Odontology, also welcomes the establishment of university dental care.
“This represents a gearing up of our joint quality work that is expected to benefit students, clinical research, and ultimately patients,” he says.
A mark of quality
University dental care brings many benefits. This includes attracting new generations of dentistry students and continuing to train for the entire industry.
“This is also a stamp of quality for us, which means that we will work together to develop teaching, deepen our cooperation on research, and work to ensure the quality development of dental care,” continues Åsa. “There are no new issues, but this places completely different demands on us.”
“The quality of the educational content is highly valued by those applying to the dental profession and, of course, by those who are already undergoing education,” adds Peter. “So it’s a positive thing for us to be able to compete with other educational institutions and employers.”
Involves more than 900 people
The initiative involves 465 dentistry students, as well as staff at training clinics, specialist dental care, and researchers. In total, this involves just over 900 people. The work within the management teams of the units that make up university dental care is now beginning. Åsa is leading this work.
“The first step is to prioritize the issues we will work on in 2024,” she concludes “An exciting and important journey lies ahead.”
BY: PONTUS ALMÈN OCH ELIN LINDSTRÖM
PHOTO: PONTUS ALMÈN