STAFF at a Stockton dentists are all smiles after it was named the best practice in the UK.

The Dental Healthcare Centre was triumphant at the Dentistry Awards 2008 held on Friday.

After being crowned Best Practice in the North-East region it was put forward for consideration for the overall Best Practice in the UK accolade which it also won.

Mike Heads, practice principal at the Dental Healthcare Centre on Wellburn Road said the team was over the moon to be awarded to be presented with the prestigious award.

He said: "It is a fantastic honour to be judged the best practice in the UK. I really can’t say enough about the dedication and commitment of our whole team as they have worked so hard to provide our patients with the best possible facilities and treatment. We are so proud both for our practice and the North East".

The ceremony, hosted by Olympic gold medallist Kris Akabusi was held at the Athena banqueting venue in Leicester.

The Dental Healthcare Centre scooped another national trophy a few weeks ago in the Private Dentistry Awards for being the practice that had made the most profound and dramatic changes in the last 12 months.