A DENTIST from York is heading to London after being chosen to be part of the Olympic dental team.

Ian Speechley, a former pupil of Poppleton Road School and Nunthorpe Grammar was chosen from more than 600 applicants to be on-hand to deal with any dental problem during the Olympics and Paralympics.

The father-of-three, who is now based at a practice in the Cotswold town of Bourton, said being on hand to deal with fractured jaws or broken teeth at London 2012 would be “rather different” to his normal line of work.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge of dealing with the unexpected. It feels great to be part of a team that will be delivering this service.

“I’ve always had a lifelong passion for sport. I’m very honoured and very pleased to have got through the selection process.”

Mr Speechley already has six years of experience providing help to injured sportsmen as the club dentist of his local rugby team, Shipston, where he also provides mouth guards for the junior players.

“I’ve enjoyed what I’ve done for Shipston,” he said. “It was a good taste for sports dentistry, but now I’m taking it a bit further.”

His role will see Mr Speechley based at the Excel Centre for nine days for the boxing, taekwondo, judo and wrestling events.

During the Paralympics he will be one of 28 dentists working in shifts to staff the dental suite at the £23 million Polyclinic, in the athletes’ village.