Beneath these walls lies a trove of stories. Welcome to the Aarhus Tandlægeskole. This institution is dedicated to dental education and research. It is part of Aarhus University.
The school’s history began in 1958. It was then known as Den Kongelige Tandlægehøjskole i Aarhus. Before that, Copenhagen had a monopoly on dental education since 1888. The school later became Aarhus Tandlægehøjskole. It was independent until 1989. Then it became part of Aarhus University.
Interestingly, there were plans to close the school twice in the 1980s. The concern was that two dental schools would produce too many dentists. Today, the Aarhus Tandlægeskole has nine departments. Each specializes in a different area of odontology.
Danish Healthcare Design has a long relationship with the school. More than 30 years ago, the school was their first customer. The Aarhus Tandlægeskole is part of the university campus. The school consists of three main four-story buildings and an auditorium. Like the rest of the university, CF Møller designed it. It opened in 1961.
The school has undergone renovations. These included new dental chairs and technical installations. A new central sterilization unit and expanded laboratories were added. The renovation covered 4,000 square meters. The budget was 100 million kroner excluding VAT.
Now for some fun facts about the Tandlægeskolen. It is nominated for preservation. In the 1960s, a souschef almost died because of a student. The student was angry with him and opened gas taps. Luckily, the souschef averted disaster.
Over the past five years, students have drilled 14,000 holes in patients’ teeth. If a patient misses an appointment, students practice on a phantom head. The teeth in these heads are either 3D printed or real teeth. Dentists from around the country send extracted teeth to the school.
In 2018, a gold rector chain was found in a bank safe. It was gifted in 1958. The chain has emblems with the names of past rectors. It also has a medallion of Saint Apollonia. Some say the gold came from melted gold teeth. The current leader wears the chain at special events. But only when the main rector is not wearing his own chain.
At the Tandlægeskolen, students provide dental care under supervision. Treatments are part of their education. The school prioritizes teaching. Therefore, students cannot perform all treatments. Patients are called in order of priority. Some treatments need a referral. Others allow self-enrollment on a waiting list. The first exam is free and lasts one to two hours. It usually happens in the Treatment Planning Unit.
Aarhus Tandlægeskole is more than just a school. It’s a place of history and learning. It is where future dentists hone their skills. A place where real teeth and phantom heads meet. It is a place where a gold chain whispers stories of the past.