Major step forward as Mayor opens new Lincolnshire Dental Institute
New dental institute opens in Lincoln with £1.5m devolved investment, launching 2026 training routes and improving NHS dental access across Greater Lincolnshire
The Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, has today officially opened the Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health (LIDOH) at the University of Lincoln, marking a major step forward for dental education and workforce development in Lincoln and the East Midlands.
The new Institute will provide dental education and training in Lincolnshire, support people already working in dentistry to develop their skills, and help improve access to NHS dental care for communities across the county, including rural and coastal areas.
The Institute has been funded with £1.5 million through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, managed locally by the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA).
Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns said:
“Dentistry is a massive issue for us here in Greater Lincolnshire, which is exactly why we funded the East Midlands’ first Institute of Dental and Oral Health. This cutting‑edge centre will train new dental professionals, upskill the existing workforce and help tackle longstanding regional shortages. It will train more dental professionals locally, upskill our existing workforce to increase capacity, cut waiting times while strengthening children’s care, and boost Lincolnshire’s long‑term health resilience. This is a practical example of turning devolved investment into real outcomes for our communities.”
From September 2026, the Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health will deliver new training routes, including a BSc in Dental Hygiene and Therapy and foundation courses for dental nurses and others to retrain or upskill, helping build a sustainable local workforce. The Institute also includes state-of-the-art clinical simulation facilities in the Lincoln Medical School building.
Professor Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, said:
Hi Lisa, just one amend on your release if possible - in Neal's quote would you be able to amend to the following to reflect our current wording:
Professor Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, said:
“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.”
The launch event, held at the institute on Wednesday 4 March, included demonstrations of the advanced clinical simulation technology and a showcase of its new facilities, highlighting Lincolnshire’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality dental care for local residents.