THERE were bigger smiles than ever at the Abbey Mead Dental Practice and Implant Centre as two trainee nurses graduated after passing the National Examination for Dental Nurses.

Christine Hartley and Lizzy Gander attended their graduation ceremony at Plymouth University. It means they are both now registered with the General Dental Council on the Register of Dental Care Professionals, following the footsteps of their colleagues at the practice.

Christine and Lizzy took the year-long course, funded by the practice in Tavistock, which required 3,500 hours of clinical experience, lessons at the university and a number of exams. Mentoring, coaching and clinical training was supervised at the practice by Dr Ann Cummins and Dr Paddy McVeigh.

Dr Cummins, dentist and employer, said: 'We are very proud of all our staff who have shown true dedication.

'Christine has a wealth of experience in the dental field, and has admirably raised a young family, held down a professional job working as a police special and has still been motivated to make the time to revise and pass her exams.

'Lizzy has been the most capable and avid learner we have been lucky enough to train. They truly deserve their success.'