They are paperless, digital and contain the most advanced dental chairs and equipment on the market.

 

 

The Dentistry and Oral Health Clinics at Orange and Wagga Wagga have computerised patient management systems and dental x-ray machines, providing immediate digital x-rays chair-side. Both facilities feature a ‘dream room’ with the most technologically and ergonomically advanced Planmeca dental equipment, supplied and maintained by world renowned innovators and dental clinic suppliers Henry Schein Halas.

 

The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, The Hon. Mark Butler, MP, will officially open the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences’  buildings at Orange on Thursday 10 December and Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 16 December. The Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Ian Goulter will also attend the openings, which will include a tour of the new teaching, research and academic facilities.

 

“It is well known that the current health workforce in rural and regional Australia does not match population distribution or demand,” Professor Goulter said.

 

“Charles Sturt University is proud to be providing a much-needed service to the community that simultaneously helps train a new generation of health professionals.”

 

 

Located close to entrance at CSU in Orange, the new dentistry facility’s ground floor comprises a 24 chair Dentistry and Oral Health Clinic, including a private practice area with support staff facilities. It also houses a 60-place simulation clinic which has been operational since August 2009.

 

The first floor includes general and specialist teaching spaces including a 32-place dental technology/clinical support laboratory, biodental science learning suite, lecture theatres, seminar and scenario rooms as well as administrative staff offices, postgraduate and research facilities, a common room and a meeting room. The anatomy teaching facilities, including a PC2 teaching laboratory and a dry (computer) laboratory, are located on the top floor.

 

In addition to these outstanding new facilities, CSU in Orange is now home to a Learning Commons, a vibrant new learning space created to encourage collaboration and support of new methods of teaching and learning in conjunction with the library. Further new facilities include a large lecture theatre which enables cross-disciplinary groups to receive lectures together, and a new student residential complex to be completed for the 2010 intake.

 

 

The new two-storey dentistry facilities at CSU in Wagga Wagga houses a 24 chair Dental and Oral Health Clinic with both open and enclosed settings located on the ground floor. The ‘front of house’ includes a patient waiting room, reception and patient counseling/liaison room, while the ‘back of house’ contains the clinic manager’s office, sterilisation rooms, staff, student and technical support areas and storage rooms.

 

Academic offices are located on the first floor and include the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences’ reception and meeting rooms. This level also houses the research facilities for staff and postgraduate student use, a 20-place simulation laboratory with practise models for teaching pre-clinical skills, and teaching areas including a specialist science teaching laboratory, lecture theatres, seminar and scenario rooms.

 

In 2009, the University welcomed the 40 inaugural students in the five-year Bachelor of Dental Science at Orange and the first 20 students in the three year Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy/Hygiene) program at Wagga Wagga.

 

Funded by the Federal Department of Health and Ageing, the new buildings at Orange and Wagga Wagga were built by Zauner Construction and Joss Construction respectively. Architect for the project was Brewster Hjorth Architects. The building was constructed as part of the $65.1 million Federal Government grant in 2007 for the University to launch its dentistry and oral health therapy programs.

 

In November 2009, Joss Construction was named a winner at the Master Builders Association Excellence in Construction Awards for this new building at CSU in Wagga Wagga. The judge’s comment included a description as a “most attractive university building completed in 12 months”.

 

Dental and oral health education clinics will open at University locations in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst and Dubbo by the middle of 2010.

 

Read more about CSU’s dentistry and oral health therapy program here.