The 2009 Dentistry Awards was a resounding success, leaving winning dental practice teams ‘on a high’ after claiming they’d had ‘a night we will never forget’.

More than 500 guests attended last Friday’s event at The Athena in Leicester, travelling back to the seventies for a night of roller skates, bright neon outfits and fabulous entertainment.

The seventies theme was kicked off with guests entering through car wash-style rollers and was rounded off into the early hours with a DJ spinning his records in an old Mini.

Roller-skating dancers, clad in costumes from the decade of glam, entertained guests throughout the three-course meal with songs from the era.

Compere for the night was stand-up comedian Paul Thorne, a resident member of the Cutting Edge team that perform weekly at London’s heralded Comedy Store.

The awards have a unique format with the UK being divided into nine regions to recognise outstanding young individuals, teams and practices.

There were three awards (Best Young Dentist, Best Team, Best Practice) for each region, as well as an overall UK winner in each category.

Nominations for the awards were collated earlier in the year, with a select panel of judges finalising the shortlist and winners ahead of the evening itself.

There will be full coverage and pictures from the fantastic evening in the 14 January issue of Dentistry magazine but for now, here are the movers and shakers who scooped the accolades on the night.

Dentistry Awards 2009: winners by region and highly commended

Scotland

Best Young Dentist
Dr Jamie Newlands – The Berkeley Clinic