DAILY LEADER / TAMMIE BREWER / Papa Smurf (left), aka Dr. Joey Sessums, teaches Lydia Bass, 7, the proper technique of brushing teeth as her sister Sylvia (standing), 6, listens intently and Papa Smurf’s assistant, Smurfette, aka Juli Johnson, (right) and the Tooth Fairy, aka Denise Thames, look on.

Halloween probably gives dentists a real scare with all the sugary candies passed out each year. One local dentist decided the day didn’t have to be so scary and decided to play along with the theme of the day.

If you had an appointment with Dr. Joey Sessums at Ole Brook Pediatric Dentistry Thursday, like Sylvia and Lydia Bass did, then you probably saw Papa Smurf, Smurfette and the Tooth Fairy instead of Sessums’ regular staff.

And while the Tooth Fairy usually waits and comes out at night to place money under children’s pillows in exchange for their teeth, Thursday she decided to visit the pediatric dentist’s office and hand out tooth brushes instead of Sessums’ usual sugar-free suckers.

Sessums and her assistant for the day, Juli Johnson, dressed as Papa Smurf and Smurfette for their patients, while receptionist Denise Thames greeted children and their parents at the door as the Tooth Fairy.

The dentist’s office wasn’t the only place you could find cartoon characters and movie celebrities around Brookhaven Thursday. Photographs of other Halloween scenes about town were included in the Thursday and Friday print editions and will continue Sunday in The Daily Leader.