Spring News, Award Shortlists & Is This Your Season to Smile?

I know our Cumbrian weather is famously changeable, but it’s been lovely to enjoy this beautiful spring sunshine. Look around and you can see the effect it has on people: more open postures, more relaxed shoulders, more smiles.

And smiling really does matter. It releases immune-boosting, stress-lowering endorphins and should feel natural and easy. But for some people, it isn’t; especially if missing or decayed teeth are holding them back.

We understand that taking the first step can feel difficult. Whether it’s worries about cost, anxiety, or past experiences, these are very real barriers.

So we’ve built our approach around helping you overcome them: taking time to listen,

explaining everything clearly, offering flexible ways to pay, and supporting nervous patients with calm, gentle care. 

Caring isn’t just something we say, it’s something we build into every step of your experience with us.

With May feeling like such a positive, uplifting month, I thought I’d share a little of what’s been happening here recently. If you’re new to us, I hope this gives you a good "feel" of what we’re all about, welcome!

We are proud to offer a fully supportive experience from the very first conversation. You’ll be welcomed with understanding, and guided by one of our Treatment Coordinators, who will take time to understand your circumstances and focus on your wishes; offering manageable, transparent payment plans.

For those who feel particularly anxious, we also offer comfortable sedation to help make treatment feel more manageable. Neil is certified under the Dental Phobia Scheme, which reflects our commitment to providing calm, empathetic care for nervous patients.

Out in the community, our “Tooth Fairy” has been busy visiting schools and nurseries, helping children learn about dental health in a fun and engaging way. With national concerns around declining oral health in children, prevention and early education have never been more important.

As part of our ongoing commitment to reducing our environmental impact, I recently completed Carbon Literacy Training through Futureproof Cumbria. It was a fascinating course, giving a deeper understanding of climate science, the impact of everyday choices and practical ways to reduce carbon emissions. Dusting off my student skills, I had to submit a practical action plan to show proof of learning! I chose:

• Committing to one meat-free family meal each week

• Preparing a monthly meat-free meal for the team (so far, no one has been poisoned with leek & potato soup; leek, pine nut & feta cheese tart, next month I'm hoping that the salad seeds I've planted will have grown so we can enjoy a home-grown seasonal salad!)

• Facilitating a “Swap Not Shop” event for patients, staff, friends and neighbours on Captain French Lane - which was great fun! HUGE thank you to Beth and the team for all their enthusiasm and endeavours making this event happen!

• Exploring more sustainable and recyclable options for our clinic uniforms

If you’ve got any ideas or suggestions, I’d genuinely love to hear them, I’m always up for a challenge.

We’ve also had some exciting news recently. Crossbank Dental Care has been shortlisted in two categories at The Probe Dental Awards 2026: Best Dental Practice, and Dental Nurse of the Year for our wonderful “Tooth Fairy”, Kelly Hunter.

While awards are not the reason we do what we do, being recognised by one of the UK’s longest-standing independent dental journals is incredibly encouraging. It reassures us that we’re on the right track and motivates us to keep improving. Wish us luck for the finals!

That’s a little snapshot of our spring so far. We’ve got lots planned for the months ahead, and I’m looking forward to sharing more with you soon.

In the meantime, I hope you have plenty to smile about and feel confident doing so. If you’d like to talk to us about your dental care, arrange a visit from the Tooth Fairy, or simply ask a question, we’re always here and happy to help.