Northwood Hills Dental Practice

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Assessing needs is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The provider had systems to ensure that people who used the service received person-centred, care and treatment, that was appropriate, met their needs and was reflective of their personal preferences. Preventive oral health care was encouraged, and the practice was a member of the Oral Health Foundation. Patients were offered information leaflets which explained the risks associated with smoking, alcohol and poor diet. Each treatment room had a dedicated area where oral hygiene advice and demonstrations on oral health techniques were given. Staff kept up to date with current evidence-based practice, and had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles. We looked at 4 patient care records. The information recorded in these patient care records was in line with recognised guidance. Staff obtained patients’ consent for treatment in line with legislation and guidance and understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff described how they involved patients’ relatives or carers when appropriate and made sure they had enough time to explain treatment options clearly. We saw evidence the dentists justified, graded and reported on the radiographs they took. The practice had systems for the safe handling and prescribing of medicines. NHS prescription pads were kept securely. Following feedback from the inspection team, the practice introduced a log to monitor the use of prescriptions, and used the log to audit that prescribing was in line with guidance from the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners. Where applicable, patients were referred to primary and secondary care specialists for treatment the practice did not provide. This included referring patients with suspected cancer under the national two-week wait arrangements. Staff felt the practice supported them to develop and enabled them to take on responsibilities.

The judgement for How staff, teams and services work together is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Supporting people to live healthier lives is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Monitoring and improving outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Consent to care and treatment is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.