Patients in Portsmouth and across the South East are set to benefit from a landmark expansion of dental training, as the University of Portsmouth becomes home to 25 new dental school places — the first time dentistry has been taught in the city. 

The University of Portsmouth has been selected as one of only two universities in England to receive new dental training places, with the first students due to begin training from 2027. The Office for Students prioritised Portsmouth because of its significant unmet dental need,  a densely populated coastal city that has long been identified as one of the South East’s biggest “dental deserts”, where patients have struggled for years to access NHS care. 

The expansion is backed by £11 million of government funding and forms part of the first sustained increase in dental school places in nearly 20 years. Portsmouth’s selection reflects a deliberate effort to bring dental education to communities where it is needed most, with evidence showing that dentists who train locally are more likely to go on to practise in those same communities. 

Shab Shivji, Regional Chief Dental Officer, NHS England, South East, said: “This is fantastic news for Portsmouth and the wider South East. For too long, people here have struggled to get the dental care they need, and bringing a dental school to the city is a major step forward. By training dentists in the communities they will go on to serve, we can build a true skill mix workforce that truly understands local needs and helps ensure patients get timely, high-quality NHS care closer to home by supporting the right people, with the right skills to be in the right place at the right time. 

This expansion means every NHS England region will now have a dental school, helping to train more home‑grown dentists and improve access to NHS dental care in areas where patients have often been left waiting in pain for months. 

Professor Jo Szram, Postgraduate Dean for the NHS in the South East, added: “This expansion marks a significant moment for dental education in the South East. By creating new training opportunities in Portsmouth, we can ensure future dentists gain the skills, experience and confidence they need while developing strong connections with local services. It’s an investment not just in education, but in the long‑term sustainability and quality of NHS dental care across the region.” 

Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said:“No one in the 21st century should struggle to access basic dental care or, even worse, be forced to take matters into their own hands. By bringing dental school places to the University of East Anglia and the University of Portsmouth for the first time, trainee dentists will put down roots in parts of the country that have for too long been left behind. These new places will help train NHS‑ready dentists in the communities that need them most, meaning patients can get the care they need faster and closer to home.” 

Director for Neighbourhood Health at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, James Roach, said: “It is fantastic to see the new increase in training places for the University of Portsmouth. The university has worked incredibly hard to achieve dental school status to enable this and we have supported them over the last few years as we look towards building a stronger NHS dentistry workforce across the city but also for the rest of Hampshire and Isle of Wight. 

“Access locally is improving following flexible commissioning and better relationships with NHS dental providers, while there is also an increase in urgent appointments and a mobile dental unit tackling those experiencing health inequalities. There is clearly more work to do, but additional training places for dentists in Portsmouth will only continue this positive work.” 

The new places form part of a wider package to rebuild NHS dentistry. The government is also significantly expanding the number of places on professional registration exams for overseas trained dentists, with up to 2,400 more dentists expected to join the register annually by 2028–29. 

Reforms to the NHS dental contract are also underway to: 

• reward dentists more fairly 

• prioritise patients with the highest needs 

• strengthen preventive care 

• ensure practices deliver a set amount of urgent care 

• Recent changes include new long‑term treatment pathways for patients with significant dental decay or gum disease, improved payments for dentists, and fairer funding for urgent care. 

Through the 10 Year Health Plan, the government is investing in prevention, improving access to dental care, and making the system fairer for both clinicians and patients.