A DENTIST has been received a prestigious award thanks to positive recommendations from her clients.

Claire Lawson, 35, has been named North East Young Dentist of the Year, after being nominated by a colleague.

Ms Lawson was also the only female dentist to make it through to the national dentist of the year final, which is organised by Dentistry Magazine.

Ms Lawson, who is based in Richmond, where she has worked at the Lion House Practice for more than three years, had to send a portfolio of her professional achievements and training to judges.

She also had to send personal testimony from her clients to back up her case.

This was the last year that Ms Lawson could qualify for the young dentist award, as she finished her training and qualified in 1998.

Ms Lawson said: "Winning this award shows that the whole practice is committed to improving and that I am committed to improving myself also.

"It also shows how many happy patients we have because they wrote some lovely testimonies about me. The award came as a shock but it’s something to be proud of."