Primary students got to “play dentist” as part of a fun and educational programme run by Kerin Oral Care.

As part of the practice’s Give Kids a Smile Day, the children learnt about oral hygiene and nutrition, and even got to dress up as dentists.

Each child played the role of a dentist, a dentist’s assistant and a patient during the hour-long visit.

Under the watchful eye of dentists Kianna Simmons and Robert Gibbons, they even got to examine each other’s teeth. The programme, launched six years ago, invites children between the ages of 7 and 11 to learn about the profession and familiarise themselves with the environment.

However, only a handful of schools have taken advantage of the programme and organisers are hoping to attract more in the years to come.

Joanne Tucker, a certified dental nurse, said: “On arrival, the children get to watch a film, then they go into the nutrition room to learn about the healthy food to eat to avoid problems like decay.

“They take in turns being assistant, dentist and patient then the dentist fills out a form to say whether they need treatment.

“They get to look in their school buddies’ mouth and check their teeth, and they are given disclosing tablets to test whether they have brushed their teeth properly.

“Sometimes we have a puppet or a model and they are shown how to brush, rinse and floss.”

The students also experience a “touch and feel” session — the dentist takes an impression of their teeth when they bite down.

At the end of the sessions the children are given goodie bags including gifts such as a pencil, floss, toothpaste, a toothbrush and a disclosing tablet.

Ms Tucker added: “We put it out to all of the schools but it is usually the same few schools that come every year.

“They really enjoy it and we want to put it out there that our office does this once a year.

“It educates the children, helps them take care of their teeth and might even inspire them to become an oral hygienist or a dentist.”

• To see more photographs related this story, go the home page and look under Photo Gallery

• For more information about the schools programme, you can call 236-4477