SmileStar dental nurse competition winner announced!
UK dental charity SmileStar are thrilled to announce the winner of their competition to select one lucky dental nurse to join an overseas outreach programme in 2026.
In partnership with leading UK manufacturer, Perfection Plus, and chosen by an industry panel including SmileStar founder Dr Mitesh Badiani, the lucky winner was Georgiana Vlad of Hemel Smile Studios in Hemel Hempstead.
SmileStar and Perfection Plus were looking for a dental nurse who was passionate about dentistry and excited to use their skills to help those in need. They were also looking for innovative ways in which the winner was planning to raise an initial £500 themselves, with the rest of the costs being covered by Perfection Plus.
Georgiana was selected from a significant number of high quality applicants, and the panel decided to choose her based on her enthusiasm for dental nursing and oral care and giving back to underprivileged communities, as well as her unique take on how she would raise the £500.
Georgiana’s idea was to run a special event called “Smiles for Africa”, encouraging the dental team in her practice to create unique artwork reflecting their idea of the perfect smile, which will be auctioned off to raise the money. In her application, Georgiana remarked that, “it will be a fun, creative way to highlight the importance of oral health and the joy a smile can bring. It will not only raise funds, but create new connections, and for the team to take part in this journey in a personal, meaningful way.”
The panel were especially impressed with Georgiana’s enthusiasm and passion for caring for patients in underprivileged areas, noting her comments that even simple treatment can change someone’s life. Drawing on her own experiences growing up without easy access to safe dental care, Georgiana impressively outlined how her own experience and personal empathy would make her a great asset to the SmileStar team on their outreach programme.
In response to learning she was chosen as the winner, Georgiana commented, “I’m absolutely thrilled and so grateful to have been selected for the subsided funded place on the SmileStar outreach programme. I’m beyond excited to bring the “Smiles for Africa” idea to life with the support of SmileStar and Perfection Plus. I can’t wait to get started and be part of something so impactful!”
Dr Mitesh Badiani, founder of SmileStar said, “Huge congratulations to Georgiana on this well-deserved recognition. Your dedication to oral health and community care really shone through. What an incredible opportunity you have to make a difference with SmileStar’s outreach programme!”
Samantha Wells, Managing Director of Perfection Plus stated, “We are absolutely delighted by the great response and high quality applications received for this competition. Georgiana is a well-deserved winner, drawing on her own personal experience which has given her a genuine desire to help others. Her ideas are both innovative and exciting and we look forward to supporting her and seeing some of the amazing artwork too!”
In addition to winning this part-funded place, Georgiana will receive a year’s free membership from the British Association of Dental Nurses, as reward for her excellent application and passion for dental nursing.
Georgiana will join an outreach programme in 2026, and Perfection Plus and SmileStar will be documenting her fundraising efforts and following her progress in the build-up to the trip next year.