For many of our alumni, the facilities and approaches used by today’s students may look very different from those you experienced during your own time at the School. These changes reflect our ongoing commitment to preparing excellent graduates for modern dental practice.
Dental Technology Unit
Our Dental Technology Unit was fully refurbished in 2021 and has been transformed into a bright, welcoming space that supports high-quality teaching using contemporary equipment. Dental Surgery students now spend dedicated time here studying appliances such as dentures, crowns and bridges, gaining a deeper understanding of laboratory processes that underpin clinical care.
Students have access to specialist facilities that may be entirely new to some alumni, including 3D printers and CAD software, alongside hands-on teaching that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern digital techniques. This combination ensures graduates are comfortable working across both established and emerging technologies.
Clinical Skills Learning Environment
Refurbished in 2023, the Clinical Skills Learning Environment is a state-of-the-art facility designed to mirror real clinical settings. Using ‘phantom head’ simulators and the same equipment found in dental practices, students are able to practise and refine core procedures- from restorations to extractions- in a safe, supported environment.
The space is also equipped with modern audio-visual technology, allowing students to observe live demonstrations by experienced clinicians and immediately translate these into their own practical work.
Virtual reality simulation suite
Building on skills developed in the clinical skills environment, our virtual reality simulation suite allows students to explore operative decision-making, clinical concepts and patient case scenarios in an immersive, interactive way. Sheffield is recognised internationally as a leader in the use of virtual reality within dental education, and this research-led approach is embedded throughout our curriculum.
As technology continues to evolve, we are currently in the process of upgrading our facilities to ensure our students benefit from the latest developments and remain well prepared for contemporary practice. We hope to have our new state-of-the art simulators ready for students to use in the 2026-27 academic year.
Upgrades to our teaching spaces
In 2025/26, our lecture theatre and seminar rooms were upgraded with modern audio-visual technology to support interactive teaching, remote meetings and the recording of lectures. These improvements enhance flexibility for both students and staff, and may function very differently to the teaching spaces many of our alumni remember from their own time at the School.
The Den
What was once known as the common room was refurbished at the end of 2025 and reopened as The Den. Located on the ground floor near the seminar rooms, it provides a much-needed space for students and staff to relax, connect and support their wellbeing. The refurbishment introduced new furniture, artwork, carpets and defined zones, as well as a special commissioned mural by local artist Molly Jones reading “Together we are the School of Clinical Dentistry.â€
The Den has quickly become a focal point for community life within the School, hosting celebrations from Diwali and Ramadan to pumpkin painting, therapy dogs and bake sales.
The garden
In collaboration with University Estates, the land at the front of the Dental School was refreshed in 2025. New shrubs, perennials and a large tree now help green the entrance to the building, improving the environment for staff, students and visitors while providing a small but valuable habitat for wildlife.
What’s next?
While these developments represent meaningful progress, there is still much more we would like to do. Continual investment in our teaching and research facilities is essential if we are to maintain a high-quality learning and research environment and continue producing graduates equipped for the future of dentistry.
Like much of the higher education sector, we are navigating a challenging financial landscape. We do so with realistic expectations, but also with optimism- supported by the strength of our community and the enduring connection many of our alumni feel to the School. Together, we look ahead to the next chapter of the School’s development with pride in how far we have come and ambition for what lies ahead.