Consultant orthodontist Dr Karen Juggins, founder of KeepStokeSmiling, and former British Dental Association committee chair Shawn Charlwood were both awarded MBEs for services to dentistry in the King’s Birthday Honours list.
Charlwood was recognised for a career spanning more than three decades, including his work representing general dental practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Juggins, a British Orthodontic Society member, was recognised for her work in public oral health, including the campaign, which grew into the national Keep Britain Smiling movement.
‘I am truly honoured and delighted to receive an MBE in The King’s Birthday Honours for services to dentistry,’ said Juggins. ‘As a Consultant Orthodontist, it is a real privilege to help transform the smiles and confidence of so many patients, whilst working alongside some truly exceptional colleagues.
‘I am particularly proud that this honour also recognises the collective work behind the KeepStokeSmiling campaign. By bringing together healthcare, schools, colleges, football clubs and local businesses across our community, we set out to show that improving young people’s oral health requires more than traditional NHS campaigns alone.’
KeepStokeSmiling later developed into Keep Britain Smiling, a social media-led oral health campaign endorsed by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the British Dental Association (BDA) and BOS.
From Stoke to national impact
The campaign includes contributions from patients, students, community groups and sports teams. There are now 18 KeepSmiling groups across the country.
Through a partnership with Stoke City Football Club, dental health workshops and roadshows were delivered to more than 40,000 primary school children. The project won the English Football League Community Project of the Season 2023 and received a commendation from the House of Commons.
Following its success, the Premier League Charity developed a dental health resource for football clubs through Premier League Primary Stars. Clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have since implemented similar initiatives.
BOS president Robbie Lawson said: ‘The British Orthodontic Society is delighted to learn that Karen has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for Services to Dentistry.
‘Her innovative leadership has reshaped dental public health messaging, showing that creative partnerships can make a real difference in public health.’
Dr Juggins has previously received the Colyer Gold Medal from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the BOS Distinction Award, the BDA Award for Excellence and fellowship ad hominem of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Who else was recognised in dentistry?
Further honours were awarded in the field of dentistry to:
- David Henry Felix, dean of postgraduate dental education and director of dentistry at NHS Education for Scotland
- Mhari Coxon, past president of the board for the Oral Health Foundation
- Chris Groombridge, chair of Teeth Team
- Urshla (Oosh) Devalia, president of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry.
Oosh Devalia said: ‘I am honoured and truly humbled to receive national honours for services to children’s oral health. This is completely unexpected. For the last eight years I have largely had my head down, working with colleagues across the NHS and the wider health and social care sector to improve oral healthcare provision for all children, especially those who are most vulnerable. Taking up the presidential role at BSPD has given me a stronger platform to advocate more loudly for children’s oral health nationally.’
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