A Commitment to Excellence Celebrating Planmeca

On September 21, there was much excitement among faculty, staff, student representatives, alumni and other UBC collaborators and guests when the Faculty of Dentistry celebrated Planmeca, welcoming special guests from Finland to acknowledge the foundational partnership and inspiring new milestones. Planmeca—one of the world’s leading manufacturers of digital dental units, CAD/CAM solutions, 2D and 3D imaging devices and software solutions—has been a partner of UBC Dentistry since the early 2000s. Several team members flew in from Helsinki, including Senior Vice President Jouko Nykänen, Director of After Sales and University Projects Jussi Ylisaari and Area Export Manager Niko Nissinen. The team was warmly welcomed with a reception to acknowledge the Faculty’s gratitude for the company’s extreme generosity in support of two new monumental projects. The first is the company’s involvement in the Faculty’s creation of a new simulation laboratory—supported by 2020-21 UBC Academic Enhancement Funds and generously named by 123Dentist. This new facility is transformative for our undergraduate oral health programs, enhancing the clinical teaching experience through state-of-the-art learning technology. The facility allows diversity in teaching methodologies, amplifies potential dental research projects and increases community involvement through greater continuing dental education programming. Planmeca held the equipment contract for this new space and gifted over $2.8 million in equipment and a special educational discount. The second project involved updating the 144 dental chairs within the Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre (NBOHC). The NBOHC dental equipment, due to age and high volume use, was experiencing several failures. The upgrade of the entire clinic ensures quality patient care and enhances student educational experiences and compatibility with digital dentistry technologies over the next decade. Planmeca provided a gift of over $3 million in equipment and special educational pricing so the Faculty could complete the entire upgrade at once. They have demonstrated their strong commitment to dental academic excellence at UBC. Planmeca’s gift is the largest single donation ever made to the Faculty of Dentistry, an amazing achievement and sign of a strong and unwavering partnership. Dean and Professor Dr. Mary MacDougall unveiled a special tribute to the company for their incredible support over the years—naming the new central dispensary facility in honour of Planmeca. Planmeca provided the Faculty with a sculpture of whooper swans, the Finnish national bird, to mark the occasion. After the presentations, guests toured the new facilities and NBOHC upgrades with DMD and DHDP student volunteers serving as guides. “The central sterilization facility is at the heart of the clinic, so we felt this was a fitting tribute to Planmeca, who have truly been at the heart of creating the NBOHC and the new simulation laboratory benefitting our students for years to come,” says Dean MacDougall. “The Faculty cherishes our shared vision and longterm partnership with Planmeca and look forward to many future collaborations.”