Featuring: Dental and Oral Health Awards 2026 The Dental Design Studio: Most Innovative Modern Dental Clinic Group 2026 Derbyshire’s Oral Health Promotion Team: Best Care Home Oral-Health Initiative 2026 – East Midlands & Excellence Award in Community Dedication 2026
Dental and Oral Health Awards 2026 Phone: 01283 365204 Website: smenews.digital Sofi Parry Senior Editor No information contained on or in this website constitutes investment advice or an offer to invest or to provide management services and is subject to correction, completion and amendment without notice. Neither AI nor any of its associated entities are authorised to give financial advice of any nature nor are they regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Prior to making any investment, AI recommends that any prospective investor should consult with its own investment, accounting, legal and tax advisers to evaluate independently the risks, consequences and suitability of that investment. AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. SME News is proud to present the SME Dental and Oral Health Awards 2026! This programme is dedicated to recognising the remarkable work of dental practices, clinics, suppliers, and support services across the UK. Through this campaign we will shine a light on the professionals and businesses that are not only improving oral health standards but also shaping the future of dentistry through innovation, community care, and entrepreneurial spirit. Oral Health: A Growing Priority in UK Health Good oral health is an essential pillar of overall wellbeing, and in the UK, it is fast becoming a national priority. The industry was valued at £7.7 billion in 2024, supported by tens of thousands of dental professionals working in both NHS and private practice. The sector encompasses a broad spectrum – from routine dental check-ups and preventative care to orthodontics, cosmetic procedures, and advanced oral surgery. Today, rising demand for private services, combined with workforce and access challenges in the NHS, is reshaping the market. Consumers are increasingly turning to SMEs in dentistry for flexible, personalised, and high-quality care. Looking ahead, the industry is expected to see steady growth, fuelled by innovation in digital dentistry, advances in dental implants, and growing consumer interest in aesthetic treatments such as whitening and veneers.
Contents 4. Toothy Tots: Best Children’s Oral-Care Brand 2026 & Excellence Award for Inclusive & Innovative Oral Care Solutions 2026 6. The Dental Design Studio: Most Innovative Modern Dental Clinic Group 2026 7. Tempdent: Best Dental Training & Recruitment Agency 2026 & Most Empowering Dental Workforce Development Company 2026 8. NUYU Dental & Aesthetics: Dental and Oral Health Awards 2026/ 8 Best Luxury Boutique Dentistry Clinic 2026 – Gloucestershire & Excellence Award in Cosmetic Dentistry 2026 – Cheltenham 9. Derbyshire’s Oral Health Promotion Team: Best Care Home Oral-Health Initiative 2026 – East Midlands & Excellence Award in Community Dedication 2026 10. Devon Place 7 Day Dental: Best Local Dental Practice 2026 – Newport
Dental and Oral Health Awards 2026/ 4 UK-based brand Toothy Tots is on a mission to transform daily brushing from a tiresome chore into a confidence-building routine. For its dedication to Helping Tiny Teeth Shine, the brand has earned much-deserved recognition in the SME Dental and Oral Health Awards 2026. Following this significant achievement, we caught up with Director Rachel Gibson for more information. Parents across the country can agree that teaching their children to brush their teeth is not always an enjoyable experience. A study conducted in August 2019 by Ginger Research on behalf of Oral-B engaged with 2,000 respondents and found that two thirds of children across the UK regularly refuse to brush their teeth. What’s more, 70% of parents admit that getting children to pick up a toothbrush is the most stressful element of parenting today, and 46% of children in the UK have already had a filling or a cavity as a result of tooth decay. Supporting families from their very first tooth through to independent brushing, Toothy Tots is a brand that specialises in fun, safe, and inclusive oral-care products for babies, toddlers, and young children. “Our core values are inclusivity, education, innovation, and trust,” Rachel told us. “These have guided every product we supply since Toothy Tots was established. Our mission is to make early oralcare positive, fun, and empowering for every child, whilst providing parents with tools they can trust.” “Our mission is to make early oral-care positive, fun, and empowering for every child, whilst providing parents with tools they can trust.” As awareness grows around the importance of early dental health and habit formation, parents are increasingly seeking products that are effective, safe, and supportive of positive brushing routines from a young age. A key development of this shift is the rise of designled innovation, such as U-shape electric toothbrushes, sensory-conscious designs, and eco-friendly materials. There has also been a growing demand for educational resources, Best Children’s Oral-Care Brand 2026 & Excellence Award for Inclusive & Innovative Oral-Care Solutions 2026 Toothy Tots
independence, and build confidence at the sink. By combining practical experience, parent feedback, and a strong understanding of early childhood needs, Toothy Tots delivers solutions that bridge the gap between professional dental advice and real-life family routines.” Though still in its infancy, Toothy Tots has big plans for the future. Being a young business has enabled the brand to remain agile: testing new ideas and learning what resonates most with families. Having launched in the summer of 2025, this first year of operations has been centred on learning, listening, and laying strong foundations. The team learned to adapt quickly throughout the year by responding to feedback, refining products, and expanding educational content. The future of Toothy Tots will be focused on expanding its impact while staying true to the overarching mission of Helping Tiny Teeth Shine. The brand will build upon the lessons learned throughout 2025, emphasising thoughtful growth, innovation, and deeper engagement with families. “The biggest lesson we’ve taken from this year is the importance of staying closely connected to parents and carers, allowing their insights to shape our growth,” Rachel shared. Toothy Tots intends to broaden its product range with new oral-care solutions that are safe, inclusive, and easy-to-use. At the same time, the team will be focusing efforts on expanding the educational content available through the brand’s blog and digital platforms, with the aim of providing parents with practical tips and relevant guidance. Q1 and Q2 of 2026 will see the team strengthening the Toothy Tots experience by refining the brand’s online presence, enhancing customer education, and exploring new ways to make brushing engaging and confidence-building. There are a number of exciting projects in the pipeline geared towards supporting positive brushing habits and bringing the Toothy Tots brand to life. “Our vision is to grow sustainably, innovate responsibly, and continue building a trusted, family-first brand,” Rachel concluded. “While our core mission remains the same, we will continue to evolve how we deliver it, ensuring Toothy Tots grows alongside the needs of modern families. “Being recognised as the Best Children’s Oral-Care Brand 2026 and receiving the Excellence Award for Inclusive and Innovative Oral-Care Solutions 2026 reflects our commitment to inclusive design, innovation, and improving children’s oral health across the UK and beyond.” Contact: Rachel Gibson Company: Toothy Tots Web Address: www.toothytots.co.uk as parents turn to trusted brands for guidance and blog content that will help them to establish home routines. With this in mind, Toothy Tots offers a range of thoughtfully designed products, using BPA-free, phthalate-free, foodgrade materials that are safe, durable, and parent approved. This product line includes U-shaped and LED electric toothbrushes, U-shaped and character-design manual toothbrushes, bamboo toothbrushes, baby teether toothbrushes, and accessories such as brushing timers, toothpaste squeezers, and UV toothbrush sterilisers. Alongside this, the brand also supports parents through an educational blog, offering tips, guidance, and reassurance to help make oralcare simple, enjoyable, and effective at home. Operating as an online-first brand, Toothy Tots has the flexibility to reach a wide and diverse customer base, providing families across the UK with trusted advice and accessible education resources. There have been obstacles along the way, such as balancing innovation with safety and quality, as well as finding ways to stand out in an increasingly competitive market. Toothy Tots has addressed such challenges by focusing on inclusive product design, parent education, and practical solutions that fit seamlessly into everyday life, helping families to build confident, life-long brushing habits. While many competitors focus solely on mainstream or sensory-friendly products, Toothy Tots delivers solutions for all children, including those with sensory sensitivities or early motor skill challenges. It places a significant emphasis on design-led innovation that prioritises inclusivity, ease-of-use, and habit-building, ensuring its oral-care solutions are comfortable, accessible, and engaging for children of all abilities. Each of Toothy Tots’ products are designed around how children actually learn and engage. Working in close collaboration with parents and carers across the UK has helped to define this focus; listening to families, particularly those supporting children with sensory sensitivities or neurodiverse needs who struggle with traditional brushing, has revealed a clear need for products that are both effective and emotionally reassuring for children. “This insight shaped our product range,” Rachel reflected, “from U-shaped electric toothbrushes to timers and education tools, all designed to reduce anxiety, encourage
Dental and Oral Health Awards 2026/ 6 Most Innovative Modern Dental Clinic Group 2026 We all deserve to be proud of our smile. More than just aesthetics, a healthy smile plays a crucial role in building confidence and boosting overall wellbeing. Every smile is important at The Dental Design Studio, a group of dental clinics dedicated to delivering services that leave every patient healthy, confident, and smiling from the inside out. Clinical Director Dr. Jeff Sherer shared more below, as The Dental Design Studio is celebrated in the SME Dental and Oral Health Awards 2026. Founded in 2005, The Dental Design Studio was born from a desire to provide high quality dental care that places the needs of the patient first. Over the last 20 years, the business has evolved into a dental group of 23 practices located around the UK and has served more than 1,000,000 dental patients from all walks of life. As The Dental Design Studio continues to grow, its mission remains the same: providing long-term dental care to the highest standards, helping patients achieve healthy and confident smiles. The Dental Design Studio’s core focus is delivering NHS and Private dentistry across its practices, with treatments ranging from basic dental examinations to advanced procedures. The business maintains a frontrunning position in the field of holistic dentistry, offering services such as blood pressure monitoring throughout its treatments. Furthermore, it has worked extensively with NHS integrated care boards to provide dentistry to communities in rural areas, as well as emergency 111 treatment to those in need. These cutting-edge services are delivered predominantly to patients across the East of England. This is an area considerably lacking in dental services and so establishing high quality dental practices throughout the region has allowed The Dental Design Studio to enjoy a constant flow of new patients and referrals. As Dr. Sherer told us: “There is certainly no lack of treatment need, and one of our biggest challenges is simply meeting the demand from a growing population.” Having experienced such significant growth over the years, The Dental Design Studio understands the importance of keeping pace with its steadily expanding client base. The business has introduced an online booking system across its practices, enabling patients to make appointments quickly and efficiently. It also leverages the power of social media to demonstrate various treatments to current and potential patients, allowing it to build trusting connections with clients through real-time communication and education. The client experience is further amplified when walking through the doors of any of The Dental Design Studio’s 23 locations. Each practice is designed to be modern and clean, as well as being equipped to provide dentistry at the highest level. Though it may possess a small senior leadership team, The Dental Design Studio is continuously working to improve its practices and enhance its operations, striving to grow as both a business and a trusted partner to patients across the region. Every investment made at The Dental Design Studio is a direct investment into patient and clinician satisfaction. The business has recently began rolling out dental scanners to its practices, which will allow clinicians to speed up treatment whilst removing the messy process of dental impressions. What’s more, patients are increasingly requesting cosmetic treatments during their treatments, such as Botox and fillers, and the team is currently working with suppliers to meet this demand by providing staff training and marketing support. “2025 has been a massive growth year for The Dental Design Studio,” Dr. Sherer reflected. “We have acquired several new practices, and we installed several new dental surgeries into our existing practices to meet the growing demand for dentistry. It is our intention to continue to develop our group through organic growth, successful competitive procurement, and acquisitions.” Looking to the future, The Dental Design Studio has an array of exciting plans in the works. The business is currently developing an external call centre, designed to help its teams handle the increasing volume of calls and patient enquiries with greater speed and efficiency. It also intends to continue rolling out digital scanner installations across its practices, with the aim of reducing wastage from dental materials whilst improving the patient outcome. The Dental Design Studio is also looking to complete the acquisition of several new dental practices in different areas of the UK. This will expand its presence across the country, reaching a wider client base and helping more patients achieve healthy and confident smiles. Such dedication to this overarching mission, boosted through strategic investment and thoughtful expansion, has cinched The Dental Design Studio its title of the Most Innovative Modern Dental Clinic Group 2026. Contact: Dr. Jeff Sherer Company: The Dental Design Studio Web Address: www.thedentaldesignstudio.co.uk “Your Smile, Our Passion.”
The UK’s dental sector is currently experiencing significant pressure stemming from two major challenges: dental nurse retention and the increasing reliance on self-employed locum professionals. These issues are creating operational, financial, and compliance-related difficulties for practices across the country. Tempdent is proactively addressing these challenges head-on with unrivalled dental training and recruitment services that meet the diverse needs of professionals and practices alike. We explored these standout solutions below, as Tempdent is named in the SME Dental and Oral Health Awards 2026. Best Dental Training & Recruitment Agency 2026 & Most Empowering Dental Workforce Development Company 2026 Tempdent was established in 1996 by Lorraine Nadel, a former Dental Nurse with extensive sectoral experience. Lorraine understood first-hand the specific recruitment and training issues impacting dental practices, and set out with the aim of enriching the industry with high-quality recruitment services. This mission was further realised in 1999 as Tempdent expanded into training services, a strategic move that shaped it into the thriving agency it is today. “Our mission is clear: to create accessible, highquality pathways into dental careers while supporting practices with the tools and talent they need to grow.” Now, Tempdent is in its 30th year. The agency has evolved to stand as the UK’s leading provider of dental apprenticeships and training that support professionals and practices alike. Renowned for its expert-led education and superlative staffing solutions, Tempdent has built a comprehensive suite of services that include apprenticeships, post-registration qualifications, dental CPD, and both locum and permanent recruitment. Going beyond the realm of simply filling vacancies, Tempdent’s specialist recruitment services are designed to build resilient, highperforming teams capable of exceptional patient care. The agency’s expertise spans both temporary and permanent recruitment, which allows practices to respond flexibly to changing workforce needs while investing in long-term talent development. When undertaking recruitment work, Tempdent combines unrivalled sector insight with a meticulous matching process and a commitment to professional growth. In doing so, it ensures that every placement – whether short-term, long-term, or developmental – creates measurable impact for practices, teams, and the wider sector. This approach has proven successful; in 2025 alone, Tempdent placed 9,408 locum dental nurses and 2,753 locum dental hygienists into UK practices and welcomed 378 new businesses. Alongside this, Tempdent also works with apprentices and dental practices to deliver best-in-class dental training. Each year, the team guides thousands of apprentices through their Level 3 Dental Nursing Apprenticeship, empowering them to reach GDC qualification and begin their careers as confident, competent dental nurses. It also provides progression routes to those already qualified with the Level 3 Dental Practice Manager Apprenticeship and the Level 3 Oral Health Practitioner Apprenticeship. With 30 years of specialist experience in dental education under its belt, Tempdent has developed a learner-centric approach that combines innovation, flexibility, and invaluable industry insight. The agency’s delivery model is built on personalised support: every apprentice benefits from a dual support system of Tempdent Tutors and employerappointed Mentors. This ensures that learners are provided with multiple sources of guidance throughout their journey, building their confidence and engagement. Tempdent stands as England’s top dental apprenticeship provider with a 100% pass rate across all its courses, as well as a Qualification Achievement Rate that, at 83%, exceeds the national average by 22.3%. What’s more, learner feedback has shown that 100% of learners feel Tempdent cares about them; 92% believe their apprenticeship builds confidence in their role; 96% reported increased productivity; and 80% have received a pay rise as a result of their training. These statistics are a direct reflection of Tempdent’s status as the Most Empowering Dental Workforce Development Company 2026. Looking to the future, Tempdent is proud to announce its brand-new Fluoride Varnish Application and Plaque Indices online course. Launching this month, this course will allow GDC-registered dental professionals to expand their role by delivering advanced preventative care within their professional scope. This is the ideal opportunity for those working in general dental practices or community settings who are ready to enhance their clinical skills and contribute to improved patient outcomes. Though Tempdent began by predominantly supplying locum dental nurses in and around London, the agency has grown significantly over thirty years to now provide practices across the country with all members of the dental team. Tempdent has made significant strides in elevating standards across the dental industry, combining education with employment to empower practices and ensure the prosperous future of dentistry. For this dedication, Tempdent has been named the Best Dental Training and Recruitment Agency 2026. Contact: Jamie Bannister Company: Tempdent Web Address: www.tempdent.co.uk Tempdent
Dental and Oral Health Awards 2026/ 8 Best Luxury Boutique Dentistry Clinic 2026 – Gloucestershire & Excellence Award in Cosmetic Dentistry 2026 – Cheltenham It is bold to claim that a new era of dentistry is being ushered in at your clinic, but that is exactly what NUYU Dental & Aesthetics does – and it more than backs this claim up. Blending advanced technology with bespoke care and wrapping it all up in a beautifully designed space that guarantees comfort, luxury is woven into every element of the patient experience at NUYU. So, whether an individual is looking to enhance their smile or is simply in search of a private dentist in Gloucestershire, the team here have their back. Dr Natalia Agalakova and Dr Naiz Khan were on hand for more. A private dental and aesthetics clinic based in Cheltenham, NUYU was created to challenge the perception of dentistry as cold and clinical, with its design being reflective of a space where patients are made to feel as important as the treatments themselves. This sees NUYU welcome a variety of patients to its clinic, from families looking for dependable support with their oral health to individuals seeking advanced cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, or implant treatment. What unites these patients is an appreciation for clarity and quality. Delivering its treatments in an environment that feels calm, personal, and uplifting all in the same breath, the intention behind NUYU shines the second a patient walks through its doors. Be it the lounge-style layout with a waterfallfeature centrepiece or the way patients move through the clinic, every element of this space has been meticulously designed to connote the comfort and confidence strived for across its services. Dr Khan explained: “NUYU stands as proof that dentistry can feel welcoming, visual, and genuinely patient-centred.” Guided by its core values of compassion, personalisation, and empowerment – which have remained consistent since day one – NUYU sees its mission as being to raise the standards in modern dentistry, which it does by combining this thoughtful design with advanced technologies and a genuine human connection. This mission is realised through a variety of initiatives, including NUYU enhancing the patient experience via modern digital workflows, thus reflecting the complementary strengths of its aforementioned co-founders. With one bringing momentum and innovation and the other bringing precision and foresight, their convergence has shaped a clinic where everything from the systems to the clinic protocols takes things a step further for patients. Further driving this clinical excellence was an awareness of the sizeable gap between the quality of clinical work and the environments in which it was delivered, and this is what NUYU was built to bridge, offering coherent dentistry in a setting complete with luxury touches to make patients feel special. Exploring this further, Dr Agalakova told us: “Patients are welcomed by a concierge and clinical care support team rather than a traditional front desk, guided through scanning and consultation spaces, and invited into the planning process using digital imaging and visual tools.” The result is that dentistry becomes more engaging, understandable, and collaborative – regardless of whether a patient is in for everyday dentistry or a specialist treatment. This focus aligns NUYU with the current trends defining the UK’s dentistry sector. As patients today are more informed and expect a higher level of service than ever before, with practices also facing increased costs and pressure, the team here recognise that the main challenge lies in integration – adopting new technologies to improve patient outcomes whilst preserving the sense of trust and continuity that can make or break a clinic. On the back of this, NUYU prioritises ongoing training and strong communication, as well as adopting the latest tools to improve accuracy and reinforce its human decision-making process. Despite only opening its doors last year, it is clear that NUYU has spent the time embedding culture, workflows, and high standards into its work, paving the way for its long-term growth. 2026 will see the first steps taken towards this, with plans including expanding its services and introducing an AI concierge service to support its current team. These steps are all about increasing the quality of care and setting a new standard for dentists in Gloucestershire, something this private dentist in Cheltenham has been doing right from the off. For everything from dental implants and cosmetic dentistry to composite bonding and facial aesthetics in Cheltenham – not to mention Invisalign, with this clinic sitting at the Blue Diamond Apex tier and being the largest provider of the solution across the Midlands and the South West – consider NUYU Dental & Aesthetics, where the new you awaits. Contact: Dr Natalia Agalakova and Dr Naiz Khan Company: NUYU Dental & Aesthetics Web Address: https://www.nuyu-dental.co.uk/ NUYU Dental & Aesthetics
In recent years, significant evidence suggests that adults living in care homes are facing substantial issues in terms of maintaining their oral health. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) highlighted such challenges in 2016, making recommendations centred on oral and mouth care plans, staff training, and service availability. This was further underscored by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), after attending 100 care homes across England to assess the oral health experiences of managers, residents, and relatives. Its subsequent report, Smiling Matters 2019, suggested that improvements needed to be made in the implementation of the NICE NG48 guidance and support provided to residents and relatives. In 2018, Healthwatch Derbyshire worked alongside the CQC to visit care homes across the county, engaging with 120 staff and 181 residents and service users. Following this engagement, Healthwatch also identified gaps in staff training and education, delays in gaining access to dental treatment, and lack of awareness of the importance of good oral health practices. In response to this growing issue, Derbyshire’s Oral Health Promotion Team developed an oral health accreditation package for care homes to maintain the oral health of their residents. The Your Smile Matters (YSM) Accreditation, a holistic approach to oral health support, was piloted in 2023 across 16 Derbyshire County Council-led and one privately-run care home, with an overall bed reach of 438 residents. The YSM programme provides care homes with standards that must be achieved within a year in order to gain accreditation. This entails ensuring that each resident has an oral health assessment; using reliable sources of oral health guidance to maintain and improve residents’ oral health; evidencing the promotion of oral health; training staff in improving and maintaining residents’ oral health and informing them on how to access the right dental service. Each care home was provided with a YSM folder containing the Oral Health in Care Homes GOV.UK toolkit, as well as a copy of the YSM programme guidance to work alongside. Participants were also given face-to-face and online training, reaching 289 staff and taking six months to deliver. Training was modelled around the latest Gov.UK Oral Health in Care Homes Toolkit, with templates for oral health policy, assessments, NICE guidance, and specific literature regarding oral health and complex conditions such as dementia. Your Smile Matters set clear, robust standards to support care homes in delivering high-quality oral health care. Through the programme, 14 care homes successfully gained the YSM accreditation status, and all care homes now have an oral policy that is based on the latest Gov.UK Oral Health in Care Homes Toolkit. All care homes within the programme now have access to Derbyshire’s oral health promotion service’s network, which allows them to build on and maintain accreditation status. Since the launch of the YSM Accreditation programme, the Derbyshire’s Oral Health Promotion Team has successfully inducted 25 more care homes into a second cohort of the year-long accreditation programme. The team is also supporting a further 11 settings (from the initial cohort) in maintaining their YSM accreditation status. This ongoing uptake highlights a growing commitment across care home settings to improving the oral health outcomes of their residents, in accordance with Derbyshire County Council’s public health investment into improving oral health for the county’s care home population. As the Your Smile Matters programme continues to strengthen oral health standards across Derbyshire, care homes are seeing meaningful improvements in both practice and resident outcomes. Morton Grange Care Home is one such example. Registered Manager Shanci Matthew shared this reflection on the programme’s impact: “When we joined the project, I didn’t expect big changes as we already felt we were doing everything possible. But after the first staff attended training, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. I soon realised there were areas we could improve. We made changes to our brushing practices, ordered a denture label kit, and ensured all residents’ dentures are properly labelled. Taking part in this accreditation has improved the quality of care for residents and even influenced our own personal habits. I would recommend this to other care homes without any doubt. Our trainer, Nicola, was incredibly supportive and motivating throughout. Thank you.” We at SME News are delighted to announce that Derbyshire’s Oral Health Promotion Service has received further regional recognition for its work to improve oral health across the county. Delivered through the Section 75 Partnership Agreement between Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, the service has received the Excellence Award in Community Dedication 2026, alongside recognition as the East Midlands’ Best Care Home Oral-Health Initiative 2026. Such accolades are a testament to the team’s hard work, and its continued commitment to reducing oral health inequalities and supporting healthier communities. Contact: Julie Upton - [email protected] Company: Derbyshire’s Oral Health Promotion Team Web Address: www.dchs.nhs.uk/our-services-and-locations/a-z-list-ofservices/oral-health-promotion Derbyshire County Council Public Health has commissioned an Oral Health Promotion Service since 2012, when responsibility for health improvement moved to local authorities. From April 2023 the Oral Health Promotion Service has been commissioned as part of a Section 75 Partnership Agreement between Derbyshire County Council and the provider (Derbyshire Community Health Service’s NHS Foundation Trust). This Agreement enables Public Health in Derbyshire to work in close partnership with the provider to develop opportunities to improve and maintain oral health outcomes while reducing inequalities across the county. Support from NHS England’s Oral Health Improvement Funding has enabled Public Health and partners to broaden this work and address a wider range of needs in targeted groups. With people retaining natural teeth for longer, older adults now require more complex, long term oral health care. Derbyshire’s Oral Health Promotion Team is proudly leading the way through the Your Smile Matters initiative, improving oral health for care home residents. This outstanding work has now been celebrated on a national stage, as the team receives recognition in the SME Dental and Oral Health Awards 2025. Best Care Home Oral-Health Initiative 2026 – East Midlands & Excellence Award in Community Dedication 2026 Derbyshire’s Oral Health Promotion Team
Dental and Oral Health Awards 2026/ 10 Best Local Dental Practice 2026 – Newport A dentist that is open seven days a week is a dream for many – as most surgeries in the UK tend to open little more than standard office hours, making it difficult for a large percentage of the population to book an appointment without having to miss work or juggle childcare, the school run, and life’s other commitments. As its name suggests, Devon Place 7 Day Dental is open for appointments Monday through Sunday, treating its patients’ every dental need across the friendly, reassuring environment it creates. Principal Dentist Rachael Gill-Randall was on hand to tell us more. Located on the road of the same name in the Welsh city of Newport, the building that Devon Place calls home was originally built as Exeter Chambers in 1874, and used by local lawyers working in the area. It was 60 years ago that the building was first converted into a dental practice by the Griffiths Family, with its close proximity to Newport railway station, which is one of the busiest in Wales, attracting patients from all over the country. Rachael purchased the practice when it went up for sale, having done work experience here in the ‘80s. Since taking over the practice in 2007, Rachael has made it her mission to set the standard for dental excellence in the region, and this began by transforming Devon Place into a seven-surgery practice, modernising the location and expanding its treatment options. For example, the team started to see Denplan patients in addition to their NHS and private patients, as well as becoming a BDA Good Practice, reflecting their obligation to safety and exceptional patient outcomes. This marked the start of a pledge that continues to this day. “We have had BDA Good Practice membership since 2009, as well as Investors in People Gold and Denplan XL accreditation for 17 years. We understand our patients’ expectations and endeavour through CPD to always be up to date with training.” Contrasting the traditional gothic architecture of its building, Devon Place is bright and friendly inside, as well as being one of the most modern and up-to-date dental surgeries in the area. This allows Rachael and the team to cover everything from cosmetic and restorative treatments to implants and preventative care for their patients, with orthodontics, teeth grinding, and even Botox and fillers rounding out their offerings. A number of child-focused services are also offered by the team, from check-ups to fluoride treatments. Aside from the wide range of services delivered seven days a week across the practice, what sets Devon Place apart is its proficiency in treating anxious patients, something Rachael considers to be a speciality of hers, having previously worked as a sedation dentist. With so many people being scared of going to the dentist, this level of support – which includes talking a patient through their fears and managing their expectations – really helps. Rachael is happy to add any new nervous patients to her list, especially for a weekend appointment. This barely scratches the surface of Devon Place’s obsession with client satisfaction. As Rachael told us: “Our patients’ needs always come first and we do whatever we can to make their visit as comfortable and as pleasant as possible.” Rachael is not the only person upholding this, as all of the 20 members of staff comprising this Newport dental practice are equally dedicated. The result is a practice that patients want to visit and dental staff of all capacities want to work at, which is a tremendous source of pride for this team. With its status as Newport’s leading local dental practice solidified, 2026 is set to be another strong year for Devon Place, which is looking to welcome many new patients on the back of the Denplan open days it is set to host. Outside of this, the three dentists here qualified in implant surgery are set to double down on this area of the practice, working on simple and complex cases alike to grow this service. Finally, and most crucially, Devon Place has recently announced that it will become fully independent practice beginning April 1st. These big changes on the horizon highlight a dental practice that is continuing to evolve for the betterment of its patients, with its pledge to deliver outstanding care to both adults and children positioning it favourably across Newport and beyond. For more on the full range of treatments available at Devon Place 7 Day Dental, visit the web address below. Contact: Rachael Gill-Randall Company: Devon Place 7 Day Dental Web Address: https://www.devonplace7daydental.co.uk/
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