PHSU opens its first dental clinic following $300K investment
The school in Ponce, Puerto Rico, expands access to oral health services and supports training with advanced simulation tech.
The Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) School of Dental Medicine has inaugurated its first clinical facility, where faculty members will provide specialized care to improve access to oral health services in the region.
The announcement comes less than a year after the first dental medicine class at a private medical school in Puerto Rico began.
In this initial phase, School of Dental Medicine professors will offer services in general, pediatric and endodontic dentistry using the latest technology. Additional specialties are expected to be added over time, the school said.
“The opening of this new dental clinic is part of a clear institutional vision: to continue growing, not only in terms of physical space, but also in the quality and diversity of the academic programs we offer,” said Gino Natalicchio, president of PHSU. “This type of academic and infrastructure development represents a direct contribution to the economic growth of Ponce and all of Puerto Rico, while reaffirming our commitment to health and education.”
The school has also incorporated Simodont, a virtual reality dental training system used in academic dental institutions worldwide. The investment in this technology exceeds $300,000 and is intended to strengthen students’ manual skills to improve clinical performance and patient care.
The equipment allows students to perform simulation exercises early in their training using a high-resolution 3D screen that projects virtual teeth and dentoforms. Students develop essential neuromuscular movements that they will later apply in clinical practice with real patients.
PHSU has four Simodont units, already used by the Class of 2028 and several faculty members, with plans to continue use in future academic cycles.
“The opening of our dental clinic is a major step for PHSU and the community, as it not only reinforces our educational mission but also responds to the growing need for access to quality dental services in Puerto Rico,” said Noel J. Aymat, dean of the PHSU School of Dental Medicine. “With this clinic, we also seek to train future oral health professionals while providing affordable, high-quality care to the community.”
The PHSU School of Dental Medicine is the first accredited private dental school in Puerto Rico and the first to open on the island in more than 50 years.
