A TRIP to the dentists can be a daunting experience for children, so the pupils of St Joseph’s Primary School in Malvern had the right idea - they all went at once.

The visit to Beacon DentalCare in Malvern Link was actually part of their science lessons, in which they have been learning all about teeth.

Karen Sutton, co-owning dentist at Beacon DentalCare said: "The school approached us because the children were learning about dental health at school and wanted to learn a bit more from an actual dentist. We showed the group our instruments, talked about how teeth decay and used our in-the-mouth camera to show the children a live video stream of a wiling volunteers teeth. We loved having the children from St Joseph's to visit us, they were a fantastic bunch of children. As part of the Beacon Outreach programme we have a commitment to engaging with our local community and inspiring good oral health. The Private Dentistry Award Committee particularly mentioned our ongoing support of our local area as one of the reasons for winning the award in November."

Laura Danby, hygienist at Beacon, added: "It was great to have such a well informed and well behaved group of children. I taught them all about plaque and how the germs attack their teeth. Then I showed them some great ways to keep their smiles shiny and clean."

Billy the Beacon Bear made a surprise appearance at the end of the visit when the children had to decide what Billy should have in his lunch box as he will only eat food that is good for his teeth. The children have produced some posters and education material as part of their classwork, which will be on display at Beacon DentalCare soon for any parents who want to see it.