A check-up and a lesson, all in one visit

Little smiles, taught by tomorrow's dentists

FREE FOR AGES 5 TO 12

Tooth School is our free children's dental education programme that runs alongside your child's NHS dental check-up. While they are with us, our work experience students, the dental team of tomorrow, show them how to brush properly and how to choose tooth friendly snacks. It's calm, fun and completely free.

A child at a Tooth School session with the Oakwood team

OCTOBER

28TH

Wednesday

Next Tooth School

Three ways to join Tooth School

A free check-up and lesson for your child, and the chance for tomorrow's dentists to help deliver it.

A free dental check-up paired with friendly, hands-on learning, so children aged 5 to 12 discover how to brush well and how to choose tooth-friendly snacks.

16 or over and curious about dentistry? Join us at Tooth School and take a real part - helping deliver the education to our young patients, always supervised. Not standing quietly in the corner, a genuine member of the team.

APPLY FOR WORK EXPERIENCE

We work with local schools to help make sure their pupils have the support of an NHS dentist, signposting families to us for a check-up and friendly dental education.

ENQUIRE ABOUT A SCHOOL VISIT

Prevention starts long before the first filling

The way a child feels about the dentist is shaped early. A calm, happy start tends to grow into an adult who looks after their teeth without a second thought, and a frightening one can last just as long. That is why we created Tooth School.

We believe prevention starts with education. When children understand why their teeth matter, and learn how to care for them in a way that actually feels fun, they carry those habits and that confidence for life. Every session pairs a gentle dental check-up with hands-on learning. Our work experience students, the dental team of tomorrow and always supervised by ours, show children how to brush well and how to choose tooth-friendly snacks. It is calm, fun and completely free.

Tooth School is really about our community looking after itself. A child who learns to brush today, a school that builds healthy habits, a young person who discovers dentistry with us and goes on to care for others, each one helps the next. As a family-run practice that has cared for Oakwood since 1980, we give as much as we get, and everyone who takes part is part of that.

A dental professional shows a young boy a large pink model of teeth and a toothbrush in a clinic waiting area.

Which Tooth School is right for you?

Here is a quick look at Tooth School, so you can find the part that fits.

Tooth School for your child

Tooth School is a free visit just for children aged 5 to 12 - a dental check-up paired with friendly education. While they are with us, our work experience students show them how to brush properly and how to choose tooth-friendly snacks, always supervised by our team. Our next Tooth School is on Wednesday 28th October.

A free dental check-up

Brushing and snack tips from our work experience students, always supervised

Calm, fun and no pressure

Parents welcome to stay throughout

Reserve your place

Work experience

If you are 16 or over and curious about dentistry, come and take a real part. At Tooth School you help deliver the education to our young patients, always supervised, communicating health messages to children of different ages. There is more detail, and answers to common questions, further down the page.

Apply for work experience

School education

We would love to help more local children learn to look after their smiles. Tooth School for schools is completely free, aimed mainly at primary-age children, and shaped around what works for you, whether that is a visit to us or our team coming to you.

A visit to the practice for a small group, or a member of our team coming into your school

A fun assembly or a hands-on classroom workshop

Simple, engaging sessions on brushing, diet and healthy habits

Led by our dental team, who are all DBS checked

Register your school's interest and our practice manager or treatment coordinator will be in touch to plan the right session for your pupils.

Why starting early makes all the difference

Regular, positive visits from a young age do more than keep little teeth healthy. They:

Help children feel calm and confident at the dentist, not fearful

Let us spot small issues early, before they become bigger ones

Build brushing and diet habits that protect teeth for life

Guide healthy tooth development as children grow

And when the time is right, we are here for everything from routine check-ups to early orthodontics for children.

Tips and tricks for parents and kids

A few small habits make a big difference. Tap through for our favourite tips.

Brushing basics

Brush twice a day for two minutes, with the last brush right before bed

Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste under age three, and a pea-sized amount from three onwards

Help or supervise brushing until around age seven

Encourage them to spit, not rinse, so the fluoride keeps working

Swap the toothbrush every three months, or sooner once it looks frayed

Food and drink

Keep sugary snacks and drinks to mealtimes rather than all through the day

Offer water or milk between meals

Watch for hidden sugars in fruit juices, squashes and flavoured yoghurts

Cheese, breadsticks and chopped veg make tooth-friendly snacks

Making it fun

Play a two-minute song or set a timer so brushing lasts long enough

Use a sticker or brushing chart to reward a full week

Let your child choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste flavour

Brush together so they can copy you

First visits and nerves

Bring your child to your own check-ups so the practice feels familiar

Keep the language positive, and avoid words like hurt or needle

Read a picture book about visiting the dentist beforehand

Choose a calm time of day rather than a rushed one

Tips by age

Under three: start brushing at the very first tooth, and do it for them

Three to six: supervise closely, use a pea-sized amount of paste and build the routine

Seven to twelve: let them take the lead, then check the tricky spots at the back

Tooth School questions, answered

Is Tooth School free?

Yes. Tooth School is completely free.

What age is Tooth School for?

It is aimed mainly at primary-age children, and every session is pitched to suit the age of the children taking part.

My child gets nervous at the dentist. Is this suitable?

Absolutely. Tooth School is calm, gentle and unhurried, and parents are welcome to stay throughout. It is often the gentlest possible way to start.

When is the next Tooth School?

Our next Tooth School is on Wednesday 28th October. Work experience is arranged around you, so register your interest and we will be in touch.

Do you work with schools?

Yes. We partner with local schools to help make sure their pupils have the support of an NHS dentist, signposting families to us for a check-up and friendly dental education.

Thinking about a career in dentistry?

We love what we do, and we'd love to show you why. If you're 16 or over and curious about dentistry, whether as a dentist, hygienist, therapist or dental nurse, come and spend time with us and get a real taste of life in a busy practice.
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A few times a year we also run Tooth School. Our work experience students step forward and work with our patients, always supervised by our team, teaching brushing, gum care and how to choose tooth-friendly snacks. It's a brilliant way to build real communication skills, it gives you something genuine to reflect on in your application, and it shows you first-hand what a rewarding profession this is.

Apply for work experience

Do I need any experience or qualifications? No. We welcome anyone aged 16 or over who is genuinely curious about a career in dentistry, whether or not you have started studying.

‍Is the placement paid? No, placements are voluntary.

‍How long is a placement? There is no set length. It can be a single day or a week.

‍What will I do or see? You will take a real part. At Tooth School you help deliver the education to our young patients, always supervised, communicating health messages to children of different ages and building genuine communication skills.

‍Is there an interview? Yes, a short, friendly chat first, so we can understand what you are hoping to get from it and make sure it is a good fit.

‍I am under 18. Can I still apply? Yes. We will simply ask for a parent or guardian's consent when you register.

Rated 4.9 stars on Google by over 250 happy patients

We're proud to help our patients smile with confidence. Here’s what some of our happy patients have to say about their experience with The Oakwood Clinic in North London.