For the past 60 years a dental practice in Wrotham Road, Gravesend, has been treating generations of families.

Now under the ownership of A A Tikare & Associates, which took over in 2006, the practice offers both NHS and private consultations.

It has spent a lot of money installing new surgeries, renovating the premises and taking on a new associate and hygienist.

The practice also offers tooth whitening, restoration for broken or decayed teeth and implants – a process where the titanium structure is placed into the bone during a simple surgical procedure mimicking a natural tooth root.

Practice manager Ayo Tikare said: “We are also a training practice for fresh dental graduates for their first year of postgraduate training, such as foundation trainees.

“We also take on apprentices, especially dental nurses, and currently employ one trainee dental nurse who was seconded to us by the Temp Dent recruitment agency.

“We would like to establish a training centre for dental nurses by 2019, where we can take on school leavers to train as dental nurses under an apprenticeship scheme.

“We offer a bespoke, caring service to all our clients, whether it be NHS or private, and always ensure they do not pay more than they need to for any of our treatments.”

The company is one of the contenders for this year's Dartford and Gravesham Business Awards, which are now in their 10th year.

They are supported by the Messenger, and each entrant gets a free profile in our papers and on our website.

This year’s award sponsors are Dartford council, Gravesham council, Barnes Roffe, Kent Business School (University of Kent), the KM Group (Dartford Messenger and Gravesend Messenger), Lloyds Bank, Thomson Snell and Passmore, Edinburgh House, University of Greenwich and Mid Kent College.

Entries have now closed. The winners will be announced later this year.