DENTISTS across Bury are hoping they will be smiling after an awards ceremony which honours the region’s best practices.

Daniel Cheung, of Bury Dental Centre, and Adam Nulty, of Ramsbottom Dental Surgery, have both been shortlisted for the Best Young Dentist prize at the 2013 Dentistry Awards.

The awards recognise excellence in dentistry across the country, and other categories include best team and best practice.

A panel of experts will choose the winners at a glitzy awards ceremony in Leicester on December 6.

Mr Nulty, aged 30, has run the Ramsbottom practice in Bridge Street for four and a half years, after studying at Leeds University, and his father Stephen runs the Tottington Dental Surgery.

His father set up his surgery over 25 years ago and, after following in his dad’s footsteps he says he hopes the award will encourage nervous patients to know they will have a good experience. He said: “If one person who was anxious about coming to the dentist sees this nomination, and they decide to come to the dentist, then we have done well.

“There are a lot of horror stories about what happens in some dentists, so it is nice to have something about people doing well.”

Mr Cheung studied at Liverpool University and the Liverpudlian commutes into Bury every day.

Bury Dental Centre, in Wash Lane, is a fully private practice and offers a range of cosmetic dentistry as well as general treatments.

Their cosmetic work was put to the test when they worked with Smile For Heroes and helped an ex-serviceman give his teeth a makeover before his wedding.

The 35-year-old said: “It is huge for me. It is great for the recognition and it has come after 12 years of hard work in dentistry since I graduated.

“I have always worked in the North West and I had the opportunity to come to Bury two years ago. It is a great place to work; there is so much going on.”