NCKU Dental Skills Center Inaugurated to Train Govt-sponsored Students, Boost Rural Healthcare-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

The series of events marking the 22nd anniversary of the Institute of Oral Medicine, 20 years since the graduation of its first batch of students, and the 40th anniversary of the Medical College at NCKU kicked off with the unveiling ceremony of the "Dental Clinical Skills Center." The event, held on the 3rd floor of the NCKU College of Dental Medicine building on the main campus, featured dignitaries from NCKU's Medical College, the Tainan City Dental Association, the National Dental Association, and the Southern Region Service Division of the Health Promotion Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, along with sponsor Tainan Kaili Jade Emperor Temple.


NCKU Dental College and Institute of Oral Medicine Director Huang Tse-da expressed that since its establishment in 2019, NCKU's College of Dental Medicine is the only national university dental college in central and southern Taiwan. It annually trains over 20 students, including those from remote islands, indigenous students on government scholarships, and overseas students. Approximately 30% of the students come from remote islands or indigenous communities, the highest percentage nationwide. Dental education is a multidisciplinary field encompassing medicine, materials, and aesthetics. In the past four years, NCKU's College of Dental Medicine has nurtured over 100 dental students. The inaugural class of 2019 is about to enter the clinical learning phase. The establishment of the Dental Clinical Skills Center aims to enhance students' clinical experiences and contribute to their future dental careers.


Director Huang explained that the center provides complete dental treatment chairs, lights, and related equipment, allowing students to simulate clinical learning environments. It strengthens students' abilities in active learning and simulated operations. Through professional dental courses in clinical skills and experiments, the center facilitates clinical teaching environments, assists students in simulating clinical examination techniques, and enhances pre-clinical training. In the future, the center will also be available for clinical research by the Institute of Oral Medicine.


Notably, the Tainan Kaili Jade Emperor Temple, upon learning of the center's need for relevant equipment, generously donated NT$5.2 million. The donation will be used to purchase 14 dental treatment chairs from YOSHIDA, the first dental treatment chair manufacturing company in Japan. These chairs, produced by the century-old company, will allow dental students and research students to experience the design ingenuity of an internationally renowned company. This initiative aims to simulate clinical learning environments and help students understand the focus and empathy towards patients during dental treatment. It also emphasizes the importance of creating a comfortable and safe environment for patients, particularly in rural areas.

In his speech, Director Da-Song Tu of the Tainan Kaili Jade Emperor Temple expressed the hope that future graduates of NCKU's College of Dental Medicine can become pioneers in providing dental services to schools in remote areas. Recognizing the lack of dental clinics in rural areas during visits, Director Tu acknowledged the challenges faced by students who will graduate in 2025 and who currently lack dental treatment chairs for internships. He hoped that the donation of dental equipment would provide students with a comfortable learning environment. Director Tu expressed the desire that dental students could simultaneously consider how to make patients feel comfortable and safe during treatment, ultimately reducing the fear of visiting the dentist, especially for children.

Chun-Mei Lin, Chief of the Southern Region Service Division of the National Health Insurance Administration, stated that the National Health Insurance Administration has actively coordinated with enterprises to collaborate with schools in remote areas to optimize dental treatment equipment, enhance medical service quality, and promote oral health education. The Dental Clinical Skills Center at NCKU is an advanced training center that allows students to receive comprehensive training during their school years. After graduation, they can directly contribute to clinical services. Lin expressed gratitude to NCKU's College of Dental Medicine for its dedication and cooperation in oral health education and promotion services. The goal is to cultivate more talents in rural dentistry in the future.