Employee-owned dental CIC, Smile Together, is celebrating its victorious win of Practice of the Year in the national Probe Dental Awards 2024.

Dental therapist, Natalie Peary, Truro Health Park based practice was also recognized as Dental Therapist of the Year.

The winners were announced via a live-streamed presentation on May 23, hosted by BBC weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas.

Smile Together, which is also a certified B Corporation, is committed to addressing oral health inequality in the aim to foster healthier, happier communities.

Its Outreach Team was equally nominated in the awards. The team regularly operates a mobile dental unit to serve local communities in need.

Ms Peary, as Outreach Dental Therapist, plays a pivotal role within and outside of conventional surgical settings.

She provides treatment to paediatric patients and special care adults referred into the service.

Her work extends to the development of outreach projects aimed at enhancing dental access for marginalized groups, families, and individuals, thereby supporting Smile Together's mission to improve patient care and pathways.

The victory will see Ms Peary and three other colleagues join judges and sponsors on July 5 at The Ivy in London. They will receive their trophies and certificates in person from The Probe team.

This isn't the first time Smile Together has been recognized by The Probe Dental Awards. In 2022 they were shortlisted for Practice of the Year, Young Dentist of the Year, and Dental Nurse of the Year.

Dental Nurse, Sarah Andrews, was commended in a competitive field.

In 2021, Dental Nurse Katie Rowe was awarded Dental Nurse of the Year, and in 2019, their Smiles at Sea project won the award for 'Best Outreach or Charity Initiative.'

Head of marketing and communications at Smile Together, Tracy Wilson, said: "We’d gathered around a screen in a dental surgery at Truro Health Park to hear the outcome of the awards, with cake at the ready whether we were successful or not.

"When Sarah announced that we’d won Practice of the Year we were all somewhat stunned as this is such a coveted national award to win. Then when she announced Natalie as Therapist of the Year, the excitement in that room was wonderful – never has chocolate cake tasted so good!

"We’re so proud of the whole Smile Together team for the difference they make every day to our patients and across our communities. This awards recognition is so justly deserved."