A $5-million gift from a world leader in esthetic dental products to the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Dentistry will be recognized with the naming of a new oral health facility. The announcement was made yesterday at the official opening of the new clinic, named the Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre.
The gift supports a state-of-the-art teaching and research centre that will offer patients from the community unique "smart" dental chairs and advanced chair-side technology.
"As Canada’s newest clinical practice and research centre for dental education, the Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre will reinforce UBC’s position as a leader in undergraduate, graduate and continuing dental education,” says UBC President Martha Piper. “The educational opportunities provided by the new clinic will draw outstanding students and faculty to this new global centre of excellence in oral health."
The Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre will receive more than 35,000 patient visits per year, and will be open to patients in September 2006. Students are currently learning with mannequins while testing the new technologies.
"This generous support is a significant milestone in helping us provide a unique learning environment that will accelerate and enhance student learning while optimizing quality assurance for patient care," says Dr. Edwin Yen, dean of UBC’s Faculty of Dentistry. "This technologically integrated facility makes UBC a leader in dental education."
The facility occupies 3,510 sq. metres of the new David Strangway Building at the corner of Wesbrook Mall and University Boulevard at UBC’s Vancouver campus. Students learn in 126 open clinical operatories and there are 18 enclosed operatories for special procedures. Previously, there had been 80 operatories available in the dental clinic on campus.
The 144 "smart" chairs are unique and were co-designed using input from UBC faculty members. Software that controls chair movement "memorizes" ergonomic positioning to ensure optimal patient comfort and dental student performance and productivity. Ergonomics is a critical issue for dentistry, a profession plagued by injuries caused by working in awkward positions.
In addition, a networked chair-side software system will store patient information that includes X-rays, digital photos of teeth and gums and all dental records. Students and patients will be able to view pertinent information during treatment planning and follow-up visits.
Nobel Biocare, an international company based in Sweden, is a medical devices group and world leader in innovative esthetic dental solutions, including dental implants and individualized dental prosthetics.
UBC Faculty of Dentistry has 250 students who work under faculty supervision to provide subsidized treatment in more than 35,000 patient visits a year.
Attn: Editors — The Dean of Dentistry and Nobel Biocare representative will be available for media interviews 10 – 11 a.m. March 9 at the new centre. Photo opportunities will also be available.
For directions to the new centre, visit www.maps.ubc.ca and search on Dentistry Mixed Use Building.
Electronic images of students using the "smart" chairs are available.
For background information on UBC’s Faculty of Dentistry see below.
For more information about Nobel Biocare, visit www.nobelbiocare.com.
Backgrounder
UBC Faculty of Dentistry
Faculty at a Glance
Students
