The Dental Surgery

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. The dentists confirmed, where applicable, they referred patients to a range of specialists in primary and secondary care for treatment the practice did not provide. They had implemented a system for the tracking and monitoring of referrals made. Staff told us how they kept up to date with current evidence-based practice. Clinicians told us that they had read and implemented relevant nationally recognised guidance, including the most recent guidelines around antimicrobial prescribing and antibiotic prophylaxis for endocarditis patients, the use of rubber dam in line with guidance published by the British Endodontic Society, awareness of periodontal classifications, consent and the concept of Gillick competency. The practice provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health. Staff worked together and with other health and social care professionals to deliver effective care and treatment. Staff demonstrated their understanding of the need to obtain patients’ consent to care and treatment in line with legislation and guidance. They 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.

Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles. The practice had systems to keep dental professionals up to date with current evidence-based practice. We looked at 4 patient care records. We noted that improvements had been made to the practice record keeping standards. Clinical records now included an updated medical history, intraoral and extraoral examination, Basic Periodontal examination (BPE), radiography justification and reporting, diagnosis, cost explained, consent taken and treatment options. Further improvements could be made to ensure that risk assessment for periodontal disease, caries and oral cancer, and recall based on risk is also always recorded. The practice had systems for the safe handling and prescribing of medicines. Staff worked together and with other health and social care professionals to deliver effective care and treatment. The practice had systems for referring patients with suspected cancer under the national two-week wait arrangements.

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.