Our Journey

Rooted in dentistry. Built for the future.

Derwen Dental Academy was founded in 2026 with a simple ambition: to create an exceptional place for dental professionals to learn, develop and build their future.

The academy was born from the shared vision of Wooding Dental Group owners Becky, Rob and Charlie. With a genuine passion for dentistry and the communities their practices serve, they wanted to find a meaningful way to give something back to the profession that had given them so much.

The missing piece arrived when they met Maria Pemberton.

Maria originally met Becky, Rob and Charlie when interviewing for a Regional Manager position within Wooding Dental Group. They immediately connected, and it quickly became clear that Maria’s extensive dental nursing background, combined with her exceptional experience in dental education and tutoring, presented an opportunity to create something much bigger.

Together, they began developing the idea for Derwen Dental Academy.

A different way to learn dentistry

From the beginning, the ambition was never simply to create another dental training provider. We wanted to rethink what dental education could look like.

Derwen Dental Academy has been purpose-built alongside Limewood Dental Care, Wooding Dental Group’s flagship dental practice. This unique setting allows us to bring education and clinical dentistry closer together, giving our students the opportunity to connect what they learn in the classroom with dentistry taking place in a real working practice.

For trainee dental nurses, that means learning isn’t limited to presentations and textbooks. Practical demonstrations, visual teaching and real-world clinical environments help bring subjects to life and give students a deeper understanding of the role they are preparing for.

We’ve also invested in advanced visual learning technology, including interactive 3D oral anatomy modelling. This allows students to explore dental and oral anatomy in incredible detail, helping them visualise structures, understand relationships and develop knowledge in a much more engaging and immersive way.

Our aim is simple: to provide an outstanding dental education and give every learner the knowledge, confidence and practical understanding they need to thrive in their career.

Why Derwen?

Our name tells an important part of our story.

Derwen means “oak” in Welsh.

The oak tree has long been at the heart of the Wooding Dental Group identity, and with the academy proudly based in Wales, Derwen felt like the perfect name.

It represents our Welsh roots, our connection to Wooding Dental Group and, most importantly, what we want the academy to stand for: strong foundations, continuous growth and the opportunity to flourish.

Just as an oak grows from strong roots, we want to give every person who learns with us the foundations they need to grow throughout their dental career.

More than a dental nursing academy

While training the next generation of dental nurses is at the heart of Derwen Dental Academy, our vision reaches much further.

We want Derwen to become a place where the wider dental community can come together to learn, share, develop and connect.

Alongside our dental nursing programmes, the academy will host in-person training, CPD opportunities for dentists and dental hygienists, professional development sessions, dental events and educational experiences for clinicians across the region.

In time, our purpose-built academy space will also be available for hire, opening its doors to individuals, organisations and educators who share our passion for developing the dental profession.

An academy for the whole dental community

Derwen Dental Academy was created because we believe great education strengthens the entire profession.

Whether you’re taking your first steps towards becoming a dental nurse, developing your skills as an experienced clinician or joining us for an event, we want Derwen to be somewhere you feel inspired to learn and excited about what comes next.

Proudly Welsh. Rooted in dentistry. Growing the dental professionals of tomorrow.