New-style dental inspections

We have been testing our new approach to the inspection of dental practices and today have published our first reports on the quality of care provided by 12 practices.

In line with CQC's other inspections, the reports focus on whether services provided are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led. We will use our experience from these new inspections, along with feedback from recent consultation, to further develop our approach which will then be fully implemented from 1 April.

Unlike other regulated sectors, primary care dental services will not be given a rating in 2015/16. Over the next year we plan to inspect 10 per cent of England’s 10,000 dental practices.

Please see our press release 'CQC inspectors publish new-style reports on 12 dental practices' for a list of the dental practices inspected.