Prince Albert’s future University of Saskatchewan (U of S) campus received a large donation for its dental clinic.
Dentalcorp donated $1,050,000 to the College of Dentistry—the largest donation to the college since its inception in 1968.
A Thursday U of S news release said the funds will go towards construction and equipment costs for the future dental clinic, which will be located in the city’s campus on Central Avenue. It’s currently known as The Forest Centre.
The Prince Albert campus is expected to be completed by September of next year.
According to the College of Dentistry’s website, the U of S dental clinics provide care by students under the supervision of licensed dentists. The website said patients pay a reduced price of up to about 40 per cent, although appointments take longer.
The students do a variety of dental procedures, including extractions, gum disease treatment and surgery and orthodontics. They also take children as patients.
Prince Albert Deputy Mayor Don Cody said the donation contributes to the “economic boost” the campus will bring to the city.
“We will have an opportunity for young people from our community and from the northern communities to be able to study dentistry and not have to go elsewhere, and plus the fact that they will have up to date equipment with the of kind donation that they have given us,” he said.
“It’s a big help for people who want to go to school and don’t have to now go to Saskatoon or Regina.”
Amrinderbir Singh is an assistant professor for Dental Public Health at the U of S College of Dentistry.
“A focus for the college is inclusive community care and taking dentistry to underserved populations. The clinic in Prince Albert will play a key role in improving access to oral health care services for priority populations in the community. This wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of dentalcorp,” he said in the release.
This is dentalcorp’s first donation to the university.
“Dentalcorp is dedicated to increasing access to care for Canadians and proud to support USask in opening a clinic to serve the Prince Albert community,” said President Guy Amini.
The organization has over 400 locations across Canada and partner with general and specialist dental clinics.
The U of S will be holding an official groundbreaking ceremony for the Prince Albert campus on Monday.
